Advances in Smart and Innovative Nanoparticles for Precision Tumor Therapy: Design, Delivery, Immune Modulation, and Clinical Translation

A special issue of Cells (ISSN 2073-4409). This special issue belongs to the section "Cell Methods".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 27 February 2026 | Viewed by 478

Special Issue Editors


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Guest Editor
Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Mayo Clinic College of Medicine and Sciences, Jacksonville, FL 32224, USA
Interests: drug development; lipid nanoparticles; immunotherapy; cancer treatment; nanomedicine

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Mayo Clinic College of Medicine and Science, Mayo Clinic, Jacksonville, FL 32224, USA
Interests: polymer chemistry; nanomedicine; biodegradable polymers; targeted drug delivery; gene delivery; vaccine delivery; nanotechnology; cancer therapy; biomaterials

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Recent advances in nanotechnology have revolutionized cancer therapy by enabling the development of smart and innovative nanoparticles designed for precision tumor targeting. These nanoplatforms integrate advanced materials, stimuli-responsive systems, and biomimetic strategies to enhance drug delivery, improve tumor penetration, and minimize off-target toxicity. Beyond conventional cytotoxic payloads, next-generation nanoparticles incorporate immunomodulatory agents to reprogram the tumor microenvironment and synergize with immunotherapies. Innovations in design, including ligand-mediated targeting, controlled release mechanisms, and real-time theranostic capabilities, are bridging the gap between preclinical success and clinical translation. Collectively, these technologies hold the potential to transform oncology by offering more effective, personalized, and durable therapeutic outcomes for patients with challenging malignancies.

Dr. Hari Krishna Reddy Rachamala
Dr. Naga Malleswara Rao Nakka
Guest Editors

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Keywords

  • smart nanoparticles
  • tumor-targeted drug delivery
  • immune modulation
  • stimuli-responsive nanocarriers
  • clinical translation in oncology

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Published Papers (1 paper)

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Research

19 pages, 4150 KB  
Article
Cisplatin-Loaded M1 Macrophage-Derived Vesicles Have Anti-Cancer Activity in Osteosarcoma
by Namrata Anand, Joseph Robert McCorkle, David S. Schweer, Lan Li, Kristen S. Hill, Melissa A. Fath, Derek B. Allison, Christopher L. Richards and Jill M. Kolesar
Cells 2025, 14(20), 1616; https://doi.org/10.3390/cells14201616 - 17 Oct 2025
Viewed by 340
Abstract
Osteosarcoma (OS) is a relatively rare bone malignancy that primarily affects children and young adults and is associated with significant morbidity and mortality. Cisplatin is a mainstay of treatment, but its efficacy is limited by off-target toxicities. Immunotherapy is not effective due to [...] Read more.
Osteosarcoma (OS) is a relatively rare bone malignancy that primarily affects children and young adults and is associated with significant morbidity and mortality. Cisplatin is a mainstay of treatment, but its efficacy is limited by off-target toxicities. Immunotherapy is not effective due to a poor antigenic tumor microenvironment. Here, we address these challenges by using manufactured M1 macrophage-derived vesicles (MVs) loaded with cisplatin. Human blood and mouse RAW 264.7 M1 macrophages were used to prepare empty (E-MVs) and cisplatin-loaded MVs (C-MVs). Human OS cell lines were used in vitro and in a tibia xenograft mouse model to evaluate the anti-cancer and immune-stimulating abilities of MVs. C-MVs had lower IC50s but equivalent DNA damage in OS cell lines when compared with free cisplatin. E-MVs and C-MVs were observed to accumulate in the tumor in OS tumor-bearing mice. C-MVs significantly reduced tumor burden and prolonged survival in a mouse model of OS. Animals dosed with free cisplatin experienced weight loss and renal and hepatic toxicity, while equivalent doses of C-MVs did not cause these effects. In addition, both E-MVs and C-MVs showed immunomodulation of the tumor microenvironment with a significant increase in the M1/M2 macrophages ratio (7-fold and 22-fold, respectively) and increased levels of TNF-α in serum (1.8-fold and 2.1-fold, respectively) compared to control mice. Collectively, these experiments support further development of C-MVs for the treatment of OS. Full article
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