Nanomedicine Beyond Cancer: How Nanotechnology Is Transforming Modern Healthcare

Introduction

Nanomedicine is often associated with cancer therapy or the COVID-19 mRNA vaccines. Yet researchers are now using nanoparticles to deliver antibiotics, cross the blood–brain barrier, repair damaged tissues, and even improve vaccine design. As nanotechnology matures, its role in medicine is expanding far beyond oncology.

What is nanomedicine?

A nanometre (nm) is one-billionth of a metre (10⁻⁹ m), or roughly the length of three atoms lined up. To put this into perspective, a single human hair is about 80,000 nanometres wide. The field of nanotechnology focuses on designing and using materials at the nanoscale, typically below 1,000 nm. [1, 2, 3, 4]

In nanomedicine, drugs are dissolved, encapsulated, or attached to tiny carriers known as nanoparticles. Because these particles are extremely small (typically <500 nm) and have a high surface-area-to-volume ratio, they can improve how medicines behave inside the body. Nanocarriers can enhance the solubility and bioavailability of poorly soluble drugs, control drug release, reduce toxicity, and improve drug accumulation at disease sites. Their small size also promotes better cellular uptake, while surface modifications allow more precise targeting and may help overcome drug resistance through combination therapies. [5, 8]

Beyond drug delivery, nanomedicine has applications in medical imaging, disease diagnosis, gene therapy, regenerative medicine, and tissue engineering. One of its most well-known successes was the use of lipid nanoparticles (LNPs) to deliver mRNA in COVID-19 vaccines, bringing unprecedented attention to the field and accelerating research and investment. [6, 7]

Nanomedicine has already transformed cancer treatment, with more than 90 nanoformulations reaching the market. The field entered clinical practice in 1995 when the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved Doxil, the first nanomedicine-based therapeutic. [2, 8]

Major types of nanoparticles

1. Lipid nanoparticles (LNPs)

   LNPs are the leading non-viral carriers for nucleic acid therapies. They protect fragile genetic material such as mRNA, siRNA, and plasmid DNA from degradation, enhance cellular uptake, and facilitate release into the cell after endosomal escape. Their success in mRNA COVID-19 vaccines has highlighted their potential for future gene and RNA-based therapies. [9, 10]

2. Polymeric nanoparticles

   Polymeric nanoparticles offer precise control over size, shape, and surface charge, making them highly versatile drug carriers. They can improve the stability and solubility of poorly soluble drugs, protect therapeutic molecules from enzymatic degradation, and be engineered to selectively target diseased tissues while limiting effects on healthy cells. [11, 12, 13]

3. Liposomes

   Liposomes are spherical vesicles made from phospholipid bilayers that can carry both water-soluble and fat-soluble drugs. Their excellent biocompatibility and biodegradable nature make them widely used in drug delivery. Surface modifications, such as attaching antibodies or other targeting molecules, enable more precise drug delivery while reducing off-target effects. [13, 14]

4. Gold nanoparticles

   Gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) can be functionalised with biomolecules such as antibodies, DNA probes, and aptamers, allowing highly sensitive disease detection and diagnostic applications. They are also being investigated for their potential neuroprotective effects. [15, 16]

5. Magnetic nanoparticles

   Magnetic nanoparticles, most commonly iron oxide nanoparticles, respond to external magnetic fields and are widely used in imaging and targeted drug delivery. Their large surface area allows extensive surface modification, while specialised coatings improve their biocompatibility without compromising their magnetic properties. [17, 18]

Why nanoparticles at all?

The National Institutes of Health (NIH) defines nanomedicine as the application of nanotechnology for precise molecular-level interventions to treat disease and repair damaged tissues. [19]

Conventional small-molecule drugs often lack selectivity, require frequent dosing, have poor solubility, and may be unable to cross biological barriers, increasing the risk of side effects and limiting their effectiveness. [20]

Nanoparticles help overcome these challenges by protecting drugs from degradation, improving their stability and bioavailability, and enabling controlled, targeted drug delivery. Their engineered surfaces also allow them to cross biological barriers, creating new opportunities to treat conditions such as neurological diseases. Biocompatible carriers like polymeric nanoparticles and liposomes further enhance drug stability and therapeutic efficacy. [21]

Nanomedicine also combines therapy with diagnosis. Nanoparticles can carry imaging agents, enabling real-time monitoring of drug distribution and treatment response, while supporting personalised medicine. In preclinical studies, contrast-labelled nanoparticles have improved understanding of drug circulation, target-site accumulation, and off-target effects. [22, 23]

In cancer care, nanomedicines improve drug delivery to tumours, reduce toxicity to healthy tissues, and can co-deliver multiple therapies to enhance treatment outcomes. They also play an important role in diagnostic imaging, particularly magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). [24, 25]

Beyond Cancer: Where Nanomedicine Is Already Making an Impact

Infectious diseases

Nanomedicine is transforming the prevention and treatment of infectious diseases through targeted drug delivery and advanced vaccine technologies. Nanocarriers, including lipid nanoparticles, polymers, micelles, and extracellular vesicles, can improve drug penetration into infected tissues, enhance immune responses, and adapt more rapidly to viral mutations than conventional therapies. mRNA nanovaccines stimulate both B-cell and T-cell immunity and can be updated to target emerging variants. [26]

Nanoparticles also improve the treatment of bacterial infections by enhancing drug solubility, enabling sustained and targeted release, and helping overcome multidrug-resistant (MDR) bacteria through multiple mechanisms of action. Surface-modified nanoparticles can further block viral entry into host cells, while virus-like particle (VLP)-based nanovaccines are already used against diseases such as COVID-19, HPV, hepatitis B, and influenza. [27, 28]

Neurological diseases

Treating neurological disorders is challenging because most drugs cannot cross the blood–brain barrier (BBB). Nanoparticles can overcome this obstacle, enabling targeted drug delivery to the brain while improving drug stability and bioavailability. [29, 30]

By decorating nanoparticles with specific ligands, researchers can target particular brain cells and regions, increasing therapeutic precision while reducing off-target effects. Nanomaterials also enhance diagnostic imaging techniques such as MRI, PET, and fMRI, supporting both the diagnosis and treatment of central nervous system disorders. [30, 32, 33][33]

Cardiovascular diseases

Nanomedicine is emerging as a promising strategy for cardiovascular disease by enabling targeted delivery of therapies to damaged heart and blood vessels. Lipid nanoparticles can deliver modified mRNA (modRNA) to injured heart tissue, promoting cardiac repair while improving drug stability and controlled release. [34]

Nanoparticles also improve cardiovascular imaging. Gold nanoparticles enhance imaging through their unique optical properties, while magnetic nanoparticles aid in the diagnosis and treatment of atherosclerosis. Targeted nanocarriers may also improve drug delivery to vascular lesions that are difficult to treat using conventional therapies. [35, 36]

Regenerative medicine

Nanomedicine is increasingly being explored in tissue engineering and regenerative medicine. Nanomaterials such as layered double hydroxides (LDHs) can act as carriers for drugs, DNA, and growth factors while providing structural support for bone regeneration and tissue repair. [37]

Nanoparticle-based immunotherapies can also deliver cytokines and immune-modulating agents directly to injured tissues, reducing systemic side effects and promoting a local environment that supports healing and regeneration. [38]

The Challenges Holding Nanomedicine Back

Despite its promise, nanomedicine faces several scientific and manufacturing challenges before it can become widely adopted.

Safety remains a major concern, as nanoparticles may trigger immune reactions, accumulate in organs such as the liver and spleen, or cause cytotoxicity. Their effectiveness also depends on factors such as circulation time, tissue penetration, cellular uptake, and controlled drug release, while targeted therapies often rely on specific disease markers that can limit their broader clinical use. [20]

Manufacturing is another hurdle. Producing nanoparticles with consistent quality, reproducibility, and stability across batches is technically demanding, particularly when scaling up for commercial production. Variations in particle properties, such as polydispersity, can significantly affect drug release, targeting ability, biocompatibility, and toxicity. In addition, high development costs and uncertainty surrounding long-term biological and environmental effects continue to slow clinical translation. [21, 39]

Another important consideration is genotoxicity - the potential for nanoparticles to damage genetic material through DNA strand breaks, mutations, or chromosomal changes, which could increase the risk of cancer and other adverse health outcomes. [40]

While these challenges remain significant, continued advances in nanoparticle design, manufacturing, and safety evaluation are steadily bringing nanomedicine closer to routine clinical practice.

What Comes Next?

As research advances, the next generation of nanomedicine is moving beyond improved drug delivery towards smarter, more personalised therapies that can diagnose, monitor, and treat disease simultaneously.

Smart nanoparticles

Unlike conventional nanoparticles, smart nanoparticles are designed to respond to specific internal or external stimuli, releasing their therapeutic payload only at the target site. Their precision and responsiveness have shown considerable promise in improving cancer treatment, while advances in artificial intelligence (AI) are accelerating the design of these next-generation nanocarriers. [41, 42]

Gene-editing delivery

Nanoparticles are becoming leading delivery vehicles for gene-editing technologies such as CRISPR-Cas9. Lipid nanoparticles, polymers, gold nanoparticles, and other nanomaterials are being developed to safely transport gene-editing tools, potentially enabling more precise diagnostics, preventive medicine, and targeted therapies. [43, 44]

Theranostics

Theranostic nanomedicine combines therapy and diagnosis into a single platform. These multifunctional nanoparticles can deliver treatment while simultaneously providing imaging information, allowing clinicians to monitor disease progression and treatment response in real time. [45, 46]

Personalised nanomedicine

The integration of nanomedicine with AI is paving the way for predictive, preventive, and precision medicine. Emerging technologies, including advanced machine learning, are expected to accelerate the development of personalised nanotherapies tailored to an individual's disease profile, improving treatment effectiveness and patient outcomes. [47, 48]

Although many of these technologies are still under development, they illustrate how nanomedicine is evolving from a drug delivery platform into a cornerstone of future precision healthcare.

Conclusion

Cancer may have been nanomedicine's first major proving ground, but it is unlikely to be its last. From infectious diseases to neurological disorders and regenerative medicine, nanoparticles are redefining how therapies are delivered. The future of medicine may depend not only on discovering new drugs, but on developing smarter ways to deliver them.

Bibliography

1. Gary. What is nanomedicine [Internet]. The British Society for Nanomedicine. 2026 [cited 2026 Aug 1]. Available from: https://www.britishsocietynanomedicine.org/what-is-nanomedicine/

2. National Nanotechnology Initiative. About nanotechnology [Internet]. National Nanotechnology Coordination Office (NNCO). 2025 Sept [cited 2026 Aug 1]. Available from: https://www.nano.gov/about-nanotechnology/

3. Wang J, Zhao W, Zhang Z, Liu X, Xie T, Wang L, et al. A Journey of Challenges and Victories: A Bibliometric Worldview of Nanomedicine Since the 21st Century. Advanced Materials [Internet]. 2024 Jan 17 [cited 2026 Aug 1];36(15). Available from: https://doi.org/10.1002/adma.202308915

4. NNCI. What is Nano? | NNCI [Internet]. nnci.net. 2019 [cited 2026 Aug 1]. Available from: https://nnci.net/what-nano

5. Paras Mani Giri, Banerjee A, Buddhadev Layek. A recent review on cancer nanomedicine. Cancers [Internet]. 2023 Apr 12 [cited 2026 Aug 1];15(8):2256–6. Available from: https://www.mdpi.com/2072-6694/15/8/2256

6. Kurul F, Turkmen H, Cetin AE, Topkaya SN. Nanomedicine: How nanomaterials are transforming drug delivery, bio-imaging, and diagnosis. Next Nanotechnology [Internet]. 2025 Jan 2 [cited 2026 Aug 1];7:100129. Available from: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2949829524000901

7. Anchordoquy T, Artzi N, Balyasnikova IV, Yechezkel Barenholz, La-Beck NM, Brenner JS, et al. Mechanisms and barriers in nanomedicine: Progress in the field and future directions. ACS nano [Internet]. 2024 May 20 [cited 2026 Aug 1];18(22). Available from: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11214758/

8. Jia Y, Jiang Y, He Y, Zhang W, Zou J, Magar KT, et al. Approved Nanomedicine Against Diseases. Pharmaceutics [Internet]. 2023 Feb 26 [cited 2026 Aug 1];15(3):774. Available from: https://www.mdpi.com/1999-4923/15/3/774

9. Xu S, Hu Z, Song F, Xu Y, Han X. Lipid Nanoparticles: Composition, Formulation and Application. Molecular Therapy — Methods & Clinical Development [Internet]. 2025 Apr 1 [cited 2026 Aug 1];33(2):101463–3. Available from: https://www.cell.com/molecular-therapy-family/methods/fulltext/S2329-0501(25)00058-0

10. Alfutaimani AS, Alharbi NK, S. Alahmari A, A. Alqabbani A, Aldayel AM. Exploring the landscape of Lipid Nanoparticles (LNPs): A comprehensive review of LNPs types and biological sources of lipids. International Journal of Pharmaceutics: X [Internet]. 2024 Nov 18 [cited 2026 Aug 1];8:100305. Available from: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S259015672400077X

11. Eltaib L. Polymeric nanoparticles in targeted drug delivery: Unveiling the impact of polymer characterization and fabrication. Polymers [Internet]. 2025 Mar 21 [cited 2026 Aug 1];17(7):833–3. Available from: https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4360/17/7/833

12. Jana S, Sabyasachi Maiti, Jana S. Biopolymer-based composites : drug delivery and biomedical applications. Duxford, United Kingdom: Elsevier/Woodhead Publishing; 2017.

13. Wang S, Chen Y, Guo J, Huang Q. Liposomes for Tumor Targeted Therapy: A Review. International Journal of Molecular Sciences [Internet]. 2023 Jan 31 [cited 2026 Aug 1];24(3):2643. Available from: https://www.mdpi.com/1422-0067/24/3/2643

14. Chelliah R, Rubab M, Vijayalakshmi S, Karuvelan M, Barathikannan K, Oh DH. Liposomes for drug delivery: Classification, Therapeutic Applications, and Limitations. Next Nanotechnology [Internet]. 2025 July 10 [cited 2026 Aug 1];8:100209. Available from: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2949829525000786

15. Arun Karnwal, Rohan, Inderpal Devgon, Jyotsna Devgon, Pant G, Mitali Panchpuri, et al. Gold nanoparticles in nanobiotechnology: From synthesis to biosensing applications. ACS omega. 2024 July 5;9(28).

16. Singh N, Sukriti Vishwas, Kaur A, Kaur H, Violina Kakoty, Rubiya Khursheed, et al. Harnessing role of sesamol and its nanoformulations against neurodegenerative diseases. Biomedicine & Pharmacotherapy. 2023 Nov 1;167:115512–2.

17. Stiufiuc GF, Stiufiuc RI. Magnetic nanoparticles: Synthesis, characterization, and their use in biomedical field. Applied Sciences [Internet]. 2024 Jan 1 [cited 2026 Aug 1];14(4):1623. Available from: https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3417/14/4/1623

18. nanoComposix. What you need to know about magnetic nanoparticles - nanoComposix [Internet]. nanoComposix. 2026 Feb [cited 2026 Aug 1]. Available from: https://nanocomposix.com/blogs/news/what-you-need-to-know-about-magnetic-nanoparticles

19. Sui C, Wu H, Li X, Wang Y, Wei J, Yu J, et al. Cancer Immunotherapy and Its Facilitation by Nanomedicine. Biomarker Research [Internet]. 2024 Aug 3 [cited 2026 Aug 1];12(1). Available from: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11297660/

20. Lu W, Yao J, Zhu X, Qi Y. Nanomedicines: Redefining Traditional Medicine. Biomedicine & Pharmacotherapy [Internet]. 2021 Feb 1 [cited 2026 Aug 1];134:111103. Available from: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0753332220312968

21. Kazi RNA, Hasani IW, Khafaga DSR, Kabba S, Farhan M, Aatif M, et al. Nanomedicine: The Effective Role of Nanomaterials in Healthcare from Diagnosis to Therapy. Pharmaceutics [Internet]. 2025 July 30 [cited 2026 Aug 1];17(8):987. Available from: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC12389108/

22. Svensson E, von Mentzer U, Stubelius A. Achieving Precision Healthcare through Nanomedicine and Enhanced Model Systems. ACS Materials Au [Internet]. 2023 Dec 18 [cited 2026 Aug 1];4(2):162–73. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10941278/

23. Oliveres R. The evolution of nanomedicine: From ideas to clinical applications [Internet]. Inside Therapeutics. 2025 Oct [cited 2026 Aug 1]. Available from: https://insidetx.com/resources/reviews/the-evolution-of-nanomedicine-from-ideas-to-clinical-applications/

24. Zhao Q, Cheng N, Sun X, Yan L, Li W. The application of nanomedicine in clinical settings. Frontiers in Bioengineering and Biotechnology [Internet]. 2023 June 27 [cited 2026 Aug 1];11:1219054. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10335748/

25. Butt A, Bach H. Nanomedicine and Clinical Diagnostics Part I: Applications in Conventional Imaging (MRI, X-ray/CT, and Ultrasound). Nanomedicine. 2024 Dec 11;20(2):1–16.

26. Xiao Y, Huang Y, Xie M, Yang M, Tao Y, Liu L, et al. Immunoregulatory Nanomedicine for Respiratory Infections. Nature Reviews Bioengineering. 2023 Dec 4;2(3):244–59.

27. Ahmed N, Abusalah M, Abuarqoub A. Nanomedicine in the fight against multidrug-resistant infections: A review on emerging strategies and translational prospects. International Journal of Nanomedicine. 2025 Oct;Volume 20:12331–62.

28. Huang Y, Guo X, Wu Y, Chen X, Feng L, Xie N, et al. Nanotechnology’s frontier in combatting infectious and inflammatory diseases: prevention and treatment. Signal Transduction and Targeted Therapy [Internet]. 2024 Feb 21 [cited 2026 Aug 1];9(1):1–50. Available from: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41392-024-01745-z

29. Ikram H. Nanomedicine: Transforming neurological therapies and precision medicine. Journal of Neurology & Neuromedicine. 2025 Feb 21;9(1):1–4.

30. Borish Loushambam, Sangeeta Yanglem, Venkateswaran Krishnaswami, Kumar M, Sivakumar Vijayaraghavalu. Nanomedicine: Pioneering Advances in Neural Disease, Stroke and Spinal Cord Injury Treatment. Neuroglia. 2025 Feb 21;6(1):9–9.

31. Guo ZH, Khattak S, Mohd Ahmar Rauf, Ansari M, Alomary MN, Razak S, et al. Role of nanomedicine-based therapeutics in the treatment of CNS disorders. Molecules. 2023 Jan 28;28(3):1283–3.

32. Krsek A, Jagodic A, Baticic L. Nanomedicine in Neuroprotection, Neuroregeneration, and Blood-Brain Barrier Modulation: A Narrative Review. Medicina (Kaunas, Lithuania) [Internet]. 2024 [cited 2026 Aug 1];60(9):1384. Available from: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39336425/

33. Chauhan N, Chauhan A, Jain S. Advancements in nanomedicine for neurodegenerative diseases: A comprehensive review. Authorea. 2024 Oct 25;.

34. Chen Q, Yu T, Gong J, Shan H. Advanced nanomedicine delivery systems for cardiovascular diseases: viral and non-viral strategies in targeted therapy. Molecules [Internet]. 2025 Feb 19 [cited 2026 Aug 1];30(4):962. Available from: https://www.mdpi.com/1420-3049/30/4/962

35. Saeed S, Ud Din SR, Khan SU, Gul R, Kiani FA, Wahab A, et al. Nanoparticle: A Promising Player in Nanomedicine and Its Theranostic Applications for the Treatment of Cardiovascular Diseases. Current Problems in Cardiology. 2023 May;48(5):101599.

36. Choi KA, Kim JH, Ryu K, Kaushik N. Current nanomedicine for targeted vascular disease treatment: Trends and perspectives. International Journal of Molecular Sciences. 2022 Oct 17;23(20):12397.

37. Luo J, Cui Y, Xu L, Zhang J, Chen J, Li X, et al. Layered double hydroxides for regenerative nanomedicine and tissue engineering: Recent advances and future perspectives. Journal of Nanobiotechnology [Internet]. 2025 May 22 [cited 2026 Aug 1];23(1). Available from: https://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s12951-025-03448-1

38. Li S, Lu L, Yuan X, Jun X. Nanomedicine-Based Immunotherapy for Tissue Regeneration. Burns & Trauma [Internet]. 2025 Feb 10 [cited 2026 Aug 1];13. Available from: https://academic.oup.com/burnstrauma/article/doi/10.1093/burnst/tkaf015/8006375

39. Wu LP, Wang D, Li Z. Grand Challenges in Nanomedicine. Materials Science and Engineering: C [Internet]. 2020 Jan 1 [cited 2026 Aug 1];106:110302. Available from: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0928493118325773?via%3Dihub

40. Yang C, Merlin D. Challenges to Safe Nanomedicine Treatment. Nanomaterials [Internet]. 2023 Jan 1 [cited 2026 Aug 1];13(7):1171. Available from: https://www.mdpi.com/2079-4991/13/7/1171

41. Sun L, Li H, Ye Y, Yang L, Islam R, Tan S, et al. Smart nanoparticles for Cancer Therapy. Signal Transduction and Targeted Therapy [Internet]. 2023 Nov 3 [cited 2026 Aug 1];8(1). Available from: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41392-023-01642-x

42. Cheng U, Santos HA. Smart Nanoparticle‐Based Platforms for Regulating Tumor Microenvironment and Cancer Immunotherapy. Advanced Healthcare Materials [Internet]. 2022 Dec 20 [cited 2026 Aug 1];12(8). Available from: https://advanced.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1002/adhm.202202063

43. Fatima H, Singh D, Muhammad H, Acharya S, Aziz MA. Improving the use of CRISPR/Cas9 gene editing machinery as a cancer therapeutic tool with the help of nanomedicine. 3 Biotech [Internet]. 2024 Dec 19 [cited 2026 Aug 1];15(1). Available from: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11656010/

44. Schmidt TJN, Berarducci B, Konstantinidou S, Raffa V. CrIsPr/Cas9 in the Era of Nanomedicine and Synthetic Biology. Drug Discovery Today [Internet]. 2023 Jan [cited 2026 Aug 1];28(1):103375. Available from: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1359644622003683

45. Setua S, Jaggi M, Yallapu MM, Chauhan SC, Danilushkina A, Lee H, et al. Targeted and Theranostic Applications for Nanotechnologies in Medicine. Nanotechnologies in Preventive and Regenerative Medicine. 2018;399–511.

46. Kasi PB, Mallela VR, Ambrozkiewicz F, Trailin A, Liška V, Hemminki K. Theranostics nanomedicine applications for colorectal cancer and metastasis: Recent advances. International Journal of Molecular Sciences. 2023 Apr 27;24(9):7922.

47. Tiwari A, Widodo, Krisnawati DI, Chen CY, Kuo TR. Ai-Driven Nanomedicine for Cancer Theranostics. Molecular Cancer. 2026 Feb 13;25(1).

48. Mazumdar H, Kamil Reza Khondakar, Das S, Harder A, Kaushik A. Artificial Intelligence for Personalized Nanomedicine; From Material Selection to Patient Outcomes. Expert Opinion on Drug Delivery. 2024 Dec 8.

Assessed and Endorsed by the MedReport Medical Review Board