Multifunctional Inorganic Nanoparticles for Chronic Disease Theranostics

Dear Colleagues,

The rapid evolution of nanotechnology has brought about unprecedented opportunities in relation to the strategic combination of diagnostic and therapeutic modalities, known as theranostics, and has gained significant attention as a powerful tool in the development of personalized treatment regimens. In particular, multifunctional inorganic nanoparticles (INPs) have emerged as powerful platforms that are capable of integrating imaging, targeted delivery, and controlled therapy within a single construct. Their tunable physicochemical properties, surface modifiability, and compatibility with a range of imaging and treatment modalities make them particularly promising for managing chronic diseases such as cancer, neurodegenerative disorders, cardiovascular diseases, and others. INPs, such as gold nanoparticles, silver nanoparticles, magnetic iron oxide particles, quantum dots, and mesoporous silica nanoparticles, individually exhibit unique advantages for theranostic combination. Additionally, several essential mechanisms aiding effective drug targeting and the precise diagnostics of these INPs include passive accumulation via the enhanced permeability and retention effect; active and passive targeting; stimuli-responsive drug release activated by microenvironmental factors such as pH modifications, enzymatic reactions, or temperature variations; and the application of multimodal imaging methods to improve the spatial and temporal tenacity of pathological sites.

This Special Issue presents cutting-edge research on multifunctional inorganic nanoparticles (INPs) for theranostic applications targeting various chronic diseases. This collection of papers also addresses key challenges like biosafety, pharmacokinetics, and regulatory hurdles, aiming to inspire continued interdisciplinary innovation in this evolving field. This Special Issue welcomes original research articles and reviews focused on (but not limited to) the following research areas:

• Multifunctional INPs (advanced synthesis and functionalization);
• Targeted drug delivery ;
• Antimicrobial and anticancer therapies;
• Neurodegenerative diseases;
• Immunotherapy, chemotherapy, and phototherapy;
• Multimodal diagnostics;
• High-contrast imaging (MRI, CT, PET, optical);
• Pharmacological and molecular mechanisms;
• Pharmacokinetics and biodistribution studies;
• Clinical and preclinical studies;
• Toxicological studies.

Dr. Sabya Sachi Das
Guest Editor

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• antimicrobial and anticancer therapies
• immunotherapy
• phototherapy
• chemotherapy
• pharmacological and molecular mechanisms
• pharmacokinetics and biodistribution studies
• clinical and preclinical studies
• toxicological studies