Recent Advances in Nanosystems for Drug Delivery and Cancer Therapy

A special issue of Nanomaterials (ISSN 2079-4991).

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 30 October 2026 | Viewed by 815

Special Issue Editor


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Guest Editor
Department of Chemistry, Biology and Biotechnology, Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Section, University of Perugia, 06123 Perugia, Italy
Interests: biochemistry; nanomedicine; drug delivery; cancer; extracellular vesicles
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Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Cancer remains one of the leading causes of morbidity and mortality worldwide, representing a major challenge for modern medicine due to its biological complexity, heterogeneity, and resistance to conventional therapies. The continuous need for more effective and selective treatment strategies has driven the exploration of advanced technologies capable of overcoming the limitations of traditional approaches. In this context, nanotechnology has revolutionized biomedical research, offering powerful tools for precise drug delivery and innovative cancer therapies. Nanoscale systems, such as liposomes, polymeric nanoparticles, inorganic nanostructures, and extracellular vesicles (EVs), enable controlled pharmacokinetics, targeted delivery, and reduced systemic toxicity. Moreover, the integration of diagnostic and therapeutic functionalities within a single nanoplatform has fostered the emergence of theranostic approaches, paving the way toward personalized cancer therapy.

This Special Issue aims to provide a comprehensive overview of current progress and future perspectives in the design and application of advanced nanosystems for drug delivery and cancer therapy. It seeks to highlight interdisciplinary approaches that integrate materials science, nanotechnology, and biomedical research, with the ultimate goal of improving the precision, selectivity, and safety of anticancer treatments. Both synthetic and naturally derived nanosystems, ranging from engineered nanoparticles to vesicle-based delivery platforms, fall within the scope of this Special Issue.

We welcome contributions that report on innovative nanosystems designed for targeted or stimuli-responsive drug release, combination therapies, and modulation of the tumor microenvironment. We particularly encourage the submission of studies on multifunctional nanoplatforms integrating therapeutic and diagnostic functions, as well as investigations into the interactions between nanomaterials and biological systems. Advances in understanding the mechanisms governing nanosystem behavior in vitro and in vivo are essential to the acceleration of clinical translation.

We invite the submission of original research articles, reviews, and communications covering, but not limited to, the following topics:

  • Synthesis, functionalization, and characterization of nanocarriers for drug delivery;
  • Targeted and controlled-release nanosystems for cancer therapy;
  • Vesicle-based nanocarriers for therapeutic applications;
  • Theranostic and multifunctional nanoplatforms;
  • Studies on biocompatibility, pharmacokinetics, and toxicity of nanomaterials;
  • Translational and preclinical research in nanomedicine and oncology.

With this Special Issue, we aim to showcase research advancing our understanding and the application of nanotechnology in the development of next-generation cancer therapies.

Dr. Eleonora Calzoni
Guest Editor

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Keywords

  • nanomaterials
  • drug delivery
  • cancer therapy
  • extracellular vesicles
  • nanosystems
  • theranostics
  • targeted nanoparticles
  • controlled release
  • translational nanomedicine

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Published Papers (1 paper)

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Research

26 pages, 2345 KB  
Article
Extracellular Vesicles from Capparis spinosa Modulate Epithelial-to-Mesenchymal Transition in Huh7 Hepatocellular Carcinoma Cells
by Agnese Bertoldi, Eleonora Calzoni, Gaia Cusumano, Husam B. R. Alabed, Roberto Maria Pellegrino, Carla Emiliani and Lorena Urbanelli
Nanomaterials 2026, 16(7), 394; https://doi.org/10.3390/nano16070394 - 25 Mar 2026
Viewed by 564
Abstract
Background: Epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) is a cellular reprogramming process characterized by coordinated changes in signaling, membrane organization and metabolism. In a previously established and deeply characterized Huh7 EMT model, it was demonstrated that TGF-β stimulation induces a reproducible shift toward a mesenchymal state [...] Read more.
Background: Epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) is a cellular reprogramming process characterized by coordinated changes in signaling, membrane organization and metabolism. In a previously established and deeply characterized Huh7 EMT model, it was demonstrated that TGF-β stimulation induces a reproducible shift toward a mesenchymal state accompanied by lipidomic and metabolic remodeling. Building on this framework, the present study evaluates whether extracellular vesicles (EVs)-enriched fractions derived from Capparis spinosa can modulate these EMT-associated alterations. Methods: After detailed physicochemical, molecular, lipidomic and metabolomic characterization, C. spinosa EVs were applied to EMT-induced Huh7 cells. The vesicles were efficiently internalized and, while not inducing a complete epithelial reversion, they attenuated mesenchymal features, indicating a modulatory rather than inhibitory action. Results: Lipidomic profiling showed a partial correction of TGF-β-induced changes including diacylglycerols, phosphoinositides and triglycerides, suggesting interference with lipid signaling and membrane turnover. Metabolomic data further points to reduced mitochondrial and fatty acid oxidation stress, reflected in the re-equilibration of carnitine and acylcarnitine species. Conclusions: Together, these findings indicate that C. spinosa EVs are able to attenuate EMT-associated metabolic and membrane remodeling, positioning them as promising modulators of tumor cell plasticity. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Recent Advances in Nanosystems for Drug Delivery and Cancer Therapy)
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