Towards targeted drugs and next generation of nanomedicines

• Anna Salvati,
• Silvia Giordani and
• Wolfgang J. Parak

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2026, 17, 598–601, doi:10.3762/bjnano.17.41

• potentially create synergistic effects for the treatment of complex pathologies [1][2][3]. Since the approval of the first liposomal drug for cancer therapy, Doxil [4], multiple nanomedicines have reached the market, including lipid nanoparticles for RNA delivery used worldwide for the vaccines against SARS

• light or other forms of radiation, magnetic fields, and ultrasounds. These can be applied externally only at the targeted area, hence providing both spatial and temporal control of the therapy [26]. In parallel to this, more recently, endogenous targeting is emerging as another potential strategy to

• , synthesis and functionalization of nanobiomaterials, nanotechnology applied to therapy and medical diagnostics, and pharmaceutical nanotechnology. The collected articles and contributions provide a broad overview on recent advances in the field within the aforementioned topics. Additionally, it includes

Laser–material interactions in liquids for the synthesis of nanomaterials: current status and perspectives

• Carlos Doñate Buendia,
• Bilal Gökce and
• Leonid V. Zhigilei

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2026, 17, 571–575, doi:10.3762/bjnano.17.38

• ]), generation of soft magnets for magnetocaloric applications [58], fabrication of photodetectors [59], nanoscale agents for photodynamic [60] and neutron capture therapy [61], incorporation of nanoparticles into solar cells [62], light-harvesting nanofluids [63], and materials with enhanced mechanical [64] or

Advances in nanotechnology applied to natural products

• Douglas Dourado,
• Fábio Rocha Formiga,
• Éverton do Nascimento Alencar and
• Franceline Reynaud

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2026, 17, 555–558, doi:10.3762/bjnano.17.36

• applications, including cancer therapy, where they may be designed as conventional liposomes or as immunoliposomes functionalized with antibodies or ligands to promote targeted delivery to tumor cells or components of the immune microenvironment [18]. Combining liposomes with natural products and co-loaded

Nanoinformatics: spanning scales, systems and solutions

• Iseult Lynch,
• Diego S. T. Martinez,
• Kunal Roy and
• Georgia Melagraki

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2026, 17, 423–427, doi:10.3762/bjnano.17.28

• artificial intelligence (AI) and ML approaches to nanomaterials disease therapy, environmental remediation, and to support implementation of the framework for Safe and Sustainable by Design (SSbD); and (iv) infrastructure and tools to underpin the implementation of nanoinformatics. Given the heterogeneity of

Biomimetic nanoparticles in cancer photodynamic therapy: a review of targeted delivery systems and therapeutic outcomes

• Valentina I. Gorbacheva,
• Alexey S. Grabovoy,
• Polina S. Marukhina,
• Anastasiia O. Syrocheva and
• Ekaterina P. Kolesova

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2026, 17, 396–422, doi:10.3762/bjnano.17.27

• Valentina I. Gorbacheva Alexey S. Grabovoy Polina S. Marukhina Anastasiia O. Syrocheva Ekaterina P. Kolesova Sirius University of Science and Technology, 1 Olympic Avenue, Sirius, Krasnodar Region, 354340, Russia 10.3762/bjnano.17.27 Abstract Photodynamic therapy (PDT) is a minimally invasive

• treatments. Keywords: biomimetic nanoparticles; immunogenic cell death; nanocarriers; photodynamic therapy; targeted drug delivery; tumor hypoxia modulation; Review Introduction Cancer remains a formidable global health challenge, demanding innovative therapeutic strategies that balance efficacy with

• reduced systemic toxicity [1]. Among emerging treatments, photodynamic therapy (PDT) has garnered considerable attention due to its minimally invasive nature, spatiotemporal control, and ability to selectively destroy tumor tissues while sparing healthy cells [2]. PDT operates through a unique mechanism

Beam shaping techniques for pulsed laser ablation in liquids: Unlocking tunable control of nanoparticle synthesis in liquids

• Sergio Molina-Prados,
• Nadezhda M. Bulgakova,
• Alexander V. Bulgakov,
• Jesus Lancis,
• Gladys Mínguez Vega and
• Carlos Doñate-Buendia

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2026, 17, 309–342, doi:10.3762/bjnano.17.22

• neutron capture therapy [62][63], viral [64][65] and microbial growth inhibition [42][66], antibacterial agents [67][68], anticancer treatments [67][69], magnetic resonance imaging contrast agent [70], photothermal therapy [71][72], cell imaging [73], proton therapy enhancement [74][75], fluorescence [76

Micro- and nanoscale effects in biological and bioinspired materials and surfaces

• Thies H. Büscher,
• Rhainer Guillermo Ferreira,
• Manuela Rebora and
• Stanislav N. Gorb

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2026, 17, 214–217, doi:10.3762/bjnano.17.14

• medicine, Perini et al. [25] reviewed the importance of biomimetic nanocarriers for drug delivery systems with improved biocompatibility and target specificity, whereas Mohammed et al. [26] focused on biomimetic potential for nanomedicines in tumor therapy. Besides nanotechnological solutions inspired by

From shield to spear: Charge-reversible nanocarriers in overcoming cancer therapy barriers

• Madhuri Yeduvaka,
• Pooja Mittal,
• Ameer Boyalakuntla,
• Usman Bee Shaik,
• Himanshu Sharma,
• Thakur Gurjeet Singh,
• Siva Nageswara Rao Gajula and
• Lakshmi Vineela Nalla

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2026, 17, 159–175, doi:10.3762/bjnano.17.10

• therapies (e.g., immunotherapy) underscore the transformative potential of charge-reversible nanocarriers in revolutionising cancer treatment and improving patient outcomes. Keywords: cancer; charge reversible nanocarriers; nanocarriers; targeted therapy; tumour microenvironment; Review 1 Introduction

• of death among individuals aged 30 to 69 in 177 countries, accounting for 16.8% of all deaths globally and 30.3% of premature mortality from noncommunicable diseases [3]. Traditional cancer treatments, such as chemotherapy, hormonal therapy for hormone-sensitive cancers, and radiation therapy

• , primarily aim to eliminate rapidly dividing cancer cells. However, these conventional approaches often face limitations in specificity and long-term efficacy [4][5][6]. In recent years, significant advancements have transformed the therapeutic landscape with the introduction of gene therapy, stem cell

Influence of surface characteristics on the in vitro stability and cell uptake of nanoliposomes for brain delivery

• Dushko Shalabalija,
• Ljubica Mihailova,
• Nikola Geskovski,
• Andreas Zimmer,
• Otmar Geiss,
• Sabrina Gioria,
• Diletta Scaccabarozzi and
• Marija Glavas Dodov

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2026, 17, 139–158, doi:10.3762/bjnano.17.9

Development and in vitro evaluation of liposomes and immunoliposomes containing 5-fluorouracil and R-phycoerythrin as a potential phototheranostic system for colorectal cancer

• Raissa Rodrigues Camelo,
• Vivianne Cortez Sombra Vandesmet,
• Octavio Vital Baccallini,
• José de Brito Vieira Neto,
• Thais da Silva Moreira,
• Luzia Kalyne Almeida Moreira Leal,
• Claudia Pessoa,
• Daniel Giuliano Cerri,
• Maria Vitória Lopes Badra Bentley,
• Josimar O. Eloy,
• Ivanildo José da Silva Júnior and
• Raquel Petrilli

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2026, 17, 97–121, doi:10.3762/bjnano.17.7

• , the HSPC 50 formulation containing R-PE and 5-FU, functionalized with cetuximab, is a promising alternative for the development of co-encapsulation delivery systems as a phototheranostic nanocarriers. Keywords: colorectal cancer; immunoliposomes; photodynamic therapy; R-phycoerythrin; 5-fluorouracil

• therapy. Another characteristic of this molecule is its fluorescence activity, which is important for use as a diagnosis tool [14]. Recently, our research group has demonstrated the potential of using the fluorescent properties of R-PE in 4T1 (triple-negative breast murine cancer) and PC3 (human prostate

• cancer, but there are cellular mechanisms of resistance, such as membrane transporters, which lower the therapeutic response rate. However, when the treatment with 5-FU was evaluated, associated with photodynamic therapy using Foslip® as a liposomal system, it was found that this treatment was effective

Improving magnetic properties of Mn- and Zn-doped core–shell iron oxide nanoparticles by tuning their size

• Dounia Louaguef,
• Ghouti Medjahdi,
• Sébastien Diliberto,
• Klaus M. Seemann,
• Thomas Gries,
• Joelle Bizeau,
• Damien Mertz,
• Eric Gaffet and
• Halima Alem

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2025, 16, 2285–2295, doi:10.3762/bjnano.16.157

• microscopy (HRTEM) provides a comprehensive understanding of the material’s composition and properties. This work paves the way for the development of next-generation biocompatible magnetic nanoparticles for cancer therapy and other biomedical applications. Materials and Methods Materials Iron

Visualizing nanostructures in supramolecular hydrogels: a correlative study using confocal and cryogenic scanning electron microscopy

• Shaun M. Smith,
• Ferdinando Malagreca,
• Jacqueline Hicks,
• Giuseppe Mantovani,
• David B. Amabilino,
• Christopher Parmenter and
• Lluïsa Pérez-García

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2025, 16, 2274–2284, doi:10.3762/bjnano.16.156

• up at the microscale of an entangled fibrous network. The reliable imaging of these networks containing the bis(imidazolium)-based gel systems is of interest because of the dependence of properties such as drug release [22][23][24], photodynamic therapy [25], photoreactivity [26], additive

Rapid synthesis of highly monodisperse AgSbS₂ nanocrystals: unveiling multifaceted activities in cancer therapy, antibacterial strategies, and antioxidant defense

• Funda Ulusu,
• Adem Sarilmaz,
• Yakup Ulusu,
• Faruk Ozel and
• Mahmut Kus

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2025, 16, 2105–2115, doi:10.3762/bjnano.16.145

• effects by efficiently eliminating DPPH activity. This research highlights the potential of AgSbS2 NCs as versatile agents with applications in biomedical and environmental domains, including cancer therapy, antimicrobial strategies, and free radical neutralization. Keywords: AgSbS2 nanocrystals

• therapeutic approaches [2]. Currently, the assessment of nanotechnology’s impact on the health of both humans and animals, along with its potential in therapy, has become an imperative scientific consideration. Nanotechnology, which is multidisciplinary, is the synthesis of materials and particles with

• from antibacterial activity to tumor therapy activity [5][6][7]. The escalating global concern regarding antimicrobial resistance presents a considerable threat to public health. Researchers are persistently exploring alternative strategies to address this pressing issue and the critical demand for

Toward clinical translation of carbon nanomaterials in anticancer drug delivery: the need for standardisation

• Michał Bartkowski,
• Francesco Calzaferri and
• Silvia Giordani

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2025, 16, 2092–2104, doi:10.3762/bjnano.16.144

• updated every decade [23][24]. The hallmarks framework has enabled researchers to develop more nuanced, spatially informed approaches to cancer therapy, reinforcing its role in driving multidisciplinary strategies for predicting treatment response [25]. Targeted drug delivery is an emerging

• cases, is invasive and not always feasible, especially if cancer has metastasised. Radiation therapy similarly suffers if the cancer has metastasised, and may damage healthy tissues and organs, causing long-term complications. Chemotherapy can also indiscriminately kill healthy cells and result in

• nanoscale materials, highlighting key agencies, legislative instruments, and guidance initiatives. Supporting Information Supporting Information File 18: Overview of conventional drug delivery methods in cancer therapy, including administration routes, key characteristics, and example drugs. Funding The

Targeting the vector of arboviruses Aedes aegypti with nanoemulsions based on essential oils: a review with focus on larvicidal and repellent properties

• Laryssa Ferreira do Nascimento Silva,
• Douglas Dourado,
• Thayse Silva Medeiros,
• Mariana Alice Gonzaga Gabú,
• Maria Cecilia Queiroga dos Santos,
• Daiane Rodrigues dos Santos,
• Mylena Lemos dos Santos,
• Gabriel Bezerra Faierstein,
• Rosângela Maria Rodrigues Barbosa and
• Fabio Rocha Formiga

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2025, 16, 1894–1913, doi:10.3762/bjnano.16.132

• ], photodynamic therapy [96], antimicrobial applications [97], intracellular parasites such as Trypanosoma cruzi and Leishmania spp. [98][99], and for antioxidant potential [100], larvicidal, and repellent activities against arthropod vectors [101]. Nanotechnology has shown the potential to enhance the

On the road to sustainability – application of metallic nanoparticles obtained by green synthesis in dentistry: a scoping review

• Lorena Pinheiro Vasconcelos Silva,
• Joice Catiane Soares Martins,
• Israel Luís Carvalho Diniz,
• Júlio Abreu Miranda,
• Danilo Rodrigues de Souza,
• Éverton do Nascimento Alencar,
• Moan Jéfter Fernandes Costa and
• Pedro Henrique Sette-de-Souza

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2025, 16, 1851–1862, doi:10.3762/bjnano.16.128

• caries and periodontal disease progression. In periodontal therapy, green-synthesized nanoparticles have been formulated into bioadhesive gels, local delivery systems, and coated dental flosses to sustain antimicrobial release in periodontal pockets [18]. Such approaches improve the control of

Phytol-loaded soybean oil nanoemulsion as a promising alternative against Leishmania amazonensis

• Victória Louise Pinto Freire,
• Mariana Farias Alves-Silva,
• Johny W. de Freitas Oliveira,
• Matheus de Freitas Fernandes-Pedrosa,
• Alianda Maira Cornélio,
• Marcelo de Souza-Silva,
• Thayse Silva Medeiros and
• Arnóbio Antônio da Silva Junior

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2025, 16, 1826–1836, doi:10.3762/bjnano.16.126

• and effective topical therapy for cutaneous leishmaniasis. Keywords: cutaneous leishmaniasis; Leishmania amazonensis; nanoemulsion; negleted tropical disease; phytol; Introduction Leishmaniasis is one of the 20 listed neglected tropical diseases (NTDs), affecting over 350 million people globally

• the cutaneous to the mucocutaneous form [6], particularly involving the nasal septum and ears) resulting in scarring, anatomical disfigurement, and consequent social stigmatization [7][8][9]. Current therapeutic strategies for leishmaniasis rely on pentavalent antimonial compounds (first-line therapy

• amastigotes forms, in vivo validation, and clinical translation of PHYT-NE as a safe and effective topical therapy for cutaneous leishmaniasis. Conclusion This is the first time that a soybean oil-based nanoemulsion containing phytol with antileishmanial potential has been reported. The results of this study

Piezoelectricity of layered double hydroxides: perspectives regarding piezocatalysis and nanogenerators

• Evgeniy S. Seliverstov,
• Evgeniya A. Tarasenko and
• Olga E. Lebedeva

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2025, 16, 1812–1817, doi:10.3762/bjnano.16.124

• biocompatibility might exhibit a piezoelectric effect under ultrasound irradiation and generate superoxide anion radicals [5]. The results confirmed the potential of the selected LDH for application in novel piezocatalytic tumor therapy as an effective sonosensitizer. The obtained data indicated that the

Exploring the potential of polymers: advancements in oral nanocarrier technology

• Rousilândia de Araujo Silva,
• Igor Eduardo Silva Arruda,
• Luise Lopes Chaves,
• Mônica Felts de La Roca Soares and
• Jose Lamartine Soares Sobrinho

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2025, 16, 1751–1793, doi:10.3762/bjnano.16.122

• route is the simplest and most effective method for administering medications with minimal side effects. It is cost-effective, corresponding medications are easy to produce on a large scale, and it promotes high patient adherence to therapy. This makes this route the largest market for pharmaceutical

• CME, enabling targeted therapy [81]. The dimeric protein caveolin-1 is the primary agent in CvME, playing key roles in cell signaling, lipid regulation, and vesicular transport. It also defines the characteristic flask-like shape of vesicles and is located on the cytosolic side of the membrane

• immunomodulatory activity, which plays a key role in antitumor therapy by inducing cell apoptosis [133]. Building on this, Imperiale et al. [114] evaluated the pharmacokinetic profile of chitosan NPs loaded with IFNα and analyzed the cellular compatibility of the NPs in intestinal epithelial cells (Caco-2) and the

Advances of aptamers in esophageal cancer diagnosis, treatment and drug delivery

• Yang Fei,
• Hui Xu,
• Chunwei Zhang,
• Jingjing Wang and
• Yong Jin

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2025, 16, 1734–1750, doi:10.3762/bjnano.16.121

• , leveraging the high target specificity of well-selected aptamers may bring new breakthroughs in the diagnosis, treatment and drug delivery of EC. Keywords: aptamers; detection; drug delivery; esophageal cancer; esophageal squamous cell carcinoma; therapy; Review 1 Introduction Esophageal cancer (EC) is

• further play a role in diagnosis and therapy by identifying and regulating the expression level of targets. In addition, SELEX has also been further developed into cell-SELEX [30], subtractive EMSA-SELEX [31], and CE-SELEX [32] along with technological progress, which is helpful to improve screening

• . Pegaptanib and Avacincaptad pegol can be administered topically by intravitreal injection, easily achieving ideal bioavailability. However, the clinical utility of aptamer-based therapeutics remains limited. Developing new aptamers for esophageal cancer therapy presents multiple challenges, such as lack of

Multifunctional anionic nanoemulsion with linseed oil and lecithin: a preliminary approach for dry eye disease

• Niédja Fittipaldi Vasconcelos,
• Almerinda Agrelli,
• Rayane Cristine Santos da Silva,
• Carina Lucena Mendes-Marques,
• Isabel Renata de Souza Arruda,
• Priscilla Stela Santana de Oliveira,
• Mércia Liane de Oliveira and
• Giovanna Machado

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2025, 16, 1711–1733, doi:10.3762/bjnano.16.120

• (approximately 5% or 1.5 µL) of the administered dose reaches the ocular chamber after topical application to the inferior conjunctival sac [10][11]. The topical use of artificial tears is the standard treatment for symptomatic relief from DED [12], while topical anti-inflammatory therapy is used in chronic

Prospects of nanotechnology and natural products for cancer and immunotherapy

• Jan Filipe Andrade Santos,
• Marcela Bernardes Brasileiro,
• Pamela Danielle Cavalcante Barreto,
• Ligiane Aranha Rocha and
• José Adão Carvalho Nascimento Júnior

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2025, 16, 1644–1667, doi:10.3762/bjnano.16.116

• pharmacokinetic properties, increasing bioavailability, protecting them from degradation, and allowing for site-specific delivery [24]. Consequently, this combination addresses both the limitations of natural products and the complex challenges of cancer therapy [25]. Unlike conventional literature reviews, this

• targeting and tumor inhibition. Following this perspective, patents CN111202719, CN114470229, and CN115252560 represent advances in tumor therapy, since they combine cell cycle blockade and inhibition of metabolic pathways, which are considered complex cellular mechanisms. Nevertheless, patent CN109846857

• vasculature of these cells compared to healthy ones. Upon absorption of light during photodynamic therapy, Ce6 generates ROS, causing damage to the cell membrane, proteins, and DNA of the cancer cells, ultimately leading to their destruction. Additionally, the ROS produced by Ce6 destroys the vascular layer

Transient electronics for sustainability: Emerging technologies and future directions

• Jae-Young Bae,
• Myung-Kyun Choi and
• Seung-Kyun Kang

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2025, 16, 1545–1556, doi:10.3762/bjnano.16.109

• nerve (right). Figure 1b was adapted from [7] (J. Koo et al., “Wireless bioresorbable electronic system enables sustained nonpharmacological neuroregenerative therapy”, Nat. Med., vol. 24, pages 1830–1836, 2018, published by Springer Nature), with permission from SNCSC. This content is not subject to CC

Nanomaterials for biomedical applications

• Iqra Zainab,
• Zohra Naseem,
• Syeda Rubab Batool,
• Filippo Pierini,
• Seda Kizilel and
• Muhammad Anwaar Nazeer

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2025, 16, 1499–1503, doi:10.3762/bjnano.16.105

• adverse effects and increasing the success rate of the delivery. Since nanomaterials can be tunable, the vast majority of health sectors are investigating their potential in a wide range of applications, such as targeted drug delivery, gene therapy, tissue regeneration, imaging, and diagnostic tools [2

• membranes [8]. They can carry both water-soluble and fat-soluble drugs, shielding them from breaking down and extending their circulation time. Certain liposome-based drugs have already been approved for therapeutic use, especially in cancer therapy, where they may protect nearby healthy cells from toxicity

• their controlled release. They are also being investigated as gene delivery agents since they can transport DNA or RNA, making them a potential candidate for therapies such as gene therapy and RNA-based vaccines [11]. Furthermore, carbon nanotubes have revealed promising results in targeted delivery

Enhancing the therapeutical potential of metalloantibiotics using nano-based delivery systems

• Alejandro Llamedo,
• Marina Cano,
• Raquel G. Soengas and
• Francisco J. García-Alonso

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2025, 16, 1350–1366, doi:10.3762/bjnano.16.98

• .; Liu, G. Nanoscale 2025, 17, 5605–5628. doi:10.1039/D4NR04774E ]. This review explores the potential of encapsulated metalloantibiotics as a new frontier in antimicrobial therapy. We address the mechanisms by which drug delivery systems can stabilize and direct metalloantibiotics to their biological

• Encapsulation of metal complexes within advanced nanoparticles has shown immense potential in antimicrobial therapy [99]. Thus, there are several recent studies reporting that these drug delivery systems can overcome the limitations in the therapeutic use of free metalloantibiotic drugs, including low

• early stages of infection and biofilm formation. Iridium complexes Antimicrobial photodynamic therapy (aPDT) is gaining recognition as a promising alternative to traditional antibiotics for managing chronic skin infections [136]. However, its broader application is contingent upon the development of