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Bioengineering
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Advances in Drug Delivery in Cancer Treatment
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Advances in Drug Delivery in Cancer Treatment

A Special Issue of Bioengineering (ISSN 2306-5354) belonging to the section "Nanobiotechnology and Biofabrication".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (30 April 2026) | Viewed by 8561

Editor

Dr. Chang Yang

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Public Health, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou 310058, China
Interests: drug delivery; cancer therapy
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Cancer is a complex and challenging disease that continues to be a major health concern worldwide. Recent advances in drug delivery systems have shown promise in improving the efficacy and safety of cancer treatment. The development of targeted drug delivery systems has allowed for the more precise delivery of anti-cancer drugs to tumor sites, reducing off-target effects and minimizing toxicity. Nanotechnology-based drug delivery systems, such as nanoparticles and liposomes, have enabled enhanced drug delivery across biological barriers and improved drug stability, bioavailability, and pharmacokinetics. Additionally, the use of combination therapies, including drug-loaded nanoparticles and immunotherapy, has shown synergistic effects in enhancing anti-cancer activity and overcoming drug resistance.

This Special Issue aims to highlight the latest research and developments in drug delivery for cancer treatment. It will feature original research articles, reviews, and perspectives that cover a wide range of topics, including novel drug delivery systems, targeting strategies, biomaterials, and clinical translation of drug delivery technologies. By bringing together researchers and experts in the field, this Special Issue will provide valuable insights into the current challenges and opportunities in drug delivery for cancer therapy.

Dr. Chang Yang
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 250 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for assessment.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-anonymized peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Bioengineering is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2700 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • cancer
  • drug delivery
  • nanotechnology
  • targeted therapy
  • combination therapy
  • biomaterials

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Published Papers (4 papers)

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Research

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18 pages, 4195 KB  
Article
Silymarin PlantCrystals for Improved Dermal Drug Delivery
by Tehseen Sehra, Muzn Alkhaldi and Cornelia M. Keck
Bioengineering 2025, 12(12), 1331; https://doi.org/10.3390/bioengineering12121331 - 5 Dec 2025
Viewed by 860
Abstract
Background/Objectives: PlantCrystals (PCs) are submicron particles derived from plants or parts of plants that can be produced by bead milling and/or high-pressure homogenization. Previous studies suggested improved dermal drug delivery of lipophilic active ingredients (API), which was explained by the formation of extracellular [...] Read more.
Background/Objectives: PlantCrystals (PCs) are submicron particles derived from plants or parts of plants that can be produced by bead milling and/or high-pressure homogenization. Previous studies suggested improved dermal drug delivery of lipophilic active ingredients (API), which was explained by the formation of extracellular vesicles (EVs) during the production of PCs. The aim of this study was to investigate the suitability of PCs for enhancing the dermal penetration efficacy of different types of APIs. Methods: For this purpose, hydrophilic, lipophilic, and poorly water-soluble API-surrogates were loaded into PCs, and the dermal penetration efficacy, as well as the skin hydrating properties, were determined with an ex vivo porcine ear model. The penetration efficacy of the API surrogates from the PCs was compared to other formulation principles, e.g., simple API solutions, API loaded into classical EVs, and API added to the PCs after preparation. Silymarin-PCs—unloaded and loaded with API—were obtained by milling milk thistle seeds using small-scale bead milling. The PCs were characterized by size, size distribution, and zeta potential. Results: Milling of milk thistle seeds resulted in the formation of submicron particles with sizes of about 300 nm. Loaded PCs had a slightly larger size. Loading API into PCs resulted in improved dermal penetration when compared to the other formulation principles. The effect was most pronounced for the lipophilic API-surrogate (+90%, p < 0.001) and least pronounced for the hydrophilic API-surrogate (+2%, p > 0.05). The improved penetration of API from PCs can be explained by the formation of EVs during the production of the PCs in which the API is encapsulated. The encapsulation seemed to be highly efficient for the lipophilic API-surrogate, moderate for the poorly soluble API-surrogate, and very limited for the hydrophilic API-surrogate. All formulations increased the skin hydration significantly by about 30–40%. Conclusions: Milk thistle seeds are suitable for the production of PCs. These PCs improve skin hydration and enhance the dermal penetration of poorly water soluble and lipophilic APIs. However, they have limited effects on the dermal penetration efficacy of hydrophilic APIs. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Drug Delivery in Cancer Treatment)
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16 pages, 3793 KB  
Article
Composites of Reduced Graphene Oxide Based on Silver Nanoparticles and Their Effect on Breast Cancer Stem Cells
by Babu Vimalanathan, Devasena Thiyagarajan, Ruby Nirmala Mary, Magesh Sachidanandam, Savarimuthu Ignacimuthu, Dhanavathy Gnanasampanthapandian, Johnson Rajasingh and Kanagaraj Palaniyandi
Bioengineering 2025, 12(5), 508; https://doi.org/10.3390/bioengineering12050508 - 11 May 2025
Cited by 7 | Viewed by 2444
Abstract
Graphene and its related nanocomposites have garnered significant interest due to their distinct physiochemical and biological properties. In this study, reduced graphene oxide–silver hybrid nanostructures were synthesized for applications in biomedical nanotechnology, particularly in targeting cancer stem cells (CSCs). A range of analytical [...] Read more.
Graphene and its related nanocomposites have garnered significant interest due to their distinct physiochemical and biological properties. In this study, reduced graphene oxide–silver hybrid nanostructures were synthesized for applications in biomedical nanotechnology, particularly in targeting cancer stem cells (CSCs). A range of analytical techniques, such as X-ray diffraction (XRD), Raman spectroscopy, Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and UV–visible absorption spectroscopy (UV–VIS), were employed to characterize graphene oxide (GO), reduced graphene oxide (rGO)–silver nanoparticles (AgNPs), and their composite structures. The GO-rGO-AgNPs exhibited potent anticancer properties as evidenced by cell culture assays, spheroid formation assay, and quantitative RT-PCR analysis. Treatment of breast cancer cells (MCF-7) with GO, rGO, and AgNPs significantly reduced cell proliferation and mammosphere formation. Furthermore, these treatments downregulated the expression of marker genes associated with CSCs in MCF-7 cells. Among the tested materials, rGO-AgNP, sodium citrate-mediated GO-AgNP, and rGO-AgNP nanocomposites demonstrated superior inhibitory effects on cell survival compared to GO alone. These findings suggest that these nanocomposites hold promise as effective and non-toxic therapeutic agents for targeting cancer cells and CSCs, thereby offering a novel approach to cancer treatment. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Drug Delivery in Cancer Treatment)
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Review

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20 pages, 858 KB  
Review
Blood Cell-Based Drug Delivery Systems: From Biological and Mechanical Design to Clinical Applications
by Gang Xu and Xuejin Li
Bioengineering 2026, 13(3), 340; https://doi.org/10.3390/bioengineering13030340 - 14 Mar 2026
Viewed by 1584
Abstract
Conventional drug delivery systems often suffer from problems such as limited targeting specificity, short half-lives, poor biocompatibility, and systemic toxicity, which significantly limit their therapeutic efficacy against major diseases like cancer. Blood cells, as native components of the human circulatory system, offer distinct [...] Read more.
Conventional drug delivery systems often suffer from problems such as limited targeting specificity, short half-lives, poor biocompatibility, and systemic toxicity, which significantly limit their therapeutic efficacy against major diseases like cancer. Blood cells, as native components of the human circulatory system, offer distinct advantages including low immunogenicity, long circulation times, remarkable mechanical flexibility, and innate ability to home to disease sites. These attributes make blood cells a promising platform for next-generation targeted drug carriers. In this review, we examine the biological and mechanical properties of red blood cells, white blood cells, platelets, and cell-derived membrane vesicles. We highlight recent advances in how these cells are engineered and loaded with drugs, and their application in tumor-targeted therapy, while also considering their potential in other diseases. We also discuss current technical challenges and outline future directions for clinical translation, offering a practical perspective on advancing blood cell-based delivery technologies. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Drug Delivery in Cancer Treatment)
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23 pages, 7504 KB  
Review
Mesenchymal Stem Cell-Mediated Targeted Drug Delivery Systems for Hepatocellular Carcinoma: Current Advances and Future Directions
by Yang Gao, Jian-Ping Wang, De-Fei Hong, Chang Yang and Hua Naranmandura
Bioengineering 2025, 12(11), 1206; https://doi.org/10.3390/bioengineering12111206 - 4 Nov 2025
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 2962
Abstract
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) ranks as the second most lethal malignancy worldwide, presenting formidable therapeutic challenges including tumor heterogeneity, complex microenvironment, and inefficient drug delivery. Conventional therapies such as surgery, chemotherapy, and immunotherapy are limited by systemic toxicity, drug resistance, and poor targeting specificity. [...] Read more.
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) ranks as the second most lethal malignancy worldwide, presenting formidable therapeutic challenges including tumor heterogeneity, complex microenvironment, and inefficient drug delivery. Conventional therapies such as surgery, chemotherapy, and immunotherapy are limited by systemic toxicity, drug resistance, and poor targeting specificity. Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) have emerged as promising drug delivery vehicles, leveraging their innate tumor-homing capacity, immunomodulatory properties, and exosome-mediated cargo transport. Preclinical studies demonstrate that MSC-based systems triple drug accumulation in tumors and synergize with immunotherapy, extending survival in HCC models. This review systematically examines recent advances in MSC-based delivery systems for HCC, focusing on engineering strategies to enhance targeting precision and controlled drug release, including genetic modification, exosome engineering, and stimuli-response systems. Despite progress, challenges such as MSC heterogeneity and scalable production persist. Emerging solutions like single-cell RNA sequencing for subpopulation selection and 3D bioprinting for standardized culture are highlighted. This work provides a roadmap for developing MSC-based precision therapies, bridging translational gaps in HCC treatment. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Drug Delivery in Cancer Treatment)
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