Advances in Antibody–Drug Conjugates
A special issue of Pharmaceuticals (ISSN 1424-8247). This special issue belongs to the section "Pharmacology".
Deadline for manuscript submissions: 20 July 2026 | Viewed by 876
Special Issue Editor
Interests: antibody-drug conjugates; radiotheranostics; bioconjugation; targeted radionuclide therapy; nanobody-drug conjugates; antibody-radionuclide conjugates; radiochemistry; biorthogonal click chemistry
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Special Issue Information
Dear Colleagues,
Antibody–drug conjugates (ADCs) have emerged as a powerful therapeutic modality by combining the high specificity of antibodies with the cytotoxic potency of chemotherapeutic agents. These engineered biopharmaceuticals have demonstrated remarkable success in targeted cancer therapy and are now being explored for broader applications, including autoimmune and infectious diseases. Advances in antibody engineering, linker stability, bioconjugation technology, payload potency and diversity, and tumor-specific targeting have paved the way for next-generation ADCs with improved efficacy and safety profiles. Despite their success, ADCs face challenges such as drug resistance, off-target toxicity, and manufacturing complexities. Addressing these issues requires interdisciplinary collaboration across biotechnology, pharmacology, and clinical sciences. This Special Issue aims to provide a comprehensive overview of cutting-edge research and novel technological developments in ADCs, offering insights into their future potential in precision medicine. We invite researchers, clinicians, and industry experts to contribute original research articles, reviews, and short communications covering, but not limited to, the following topics:
- Novel antibody engineering approaches for improved targeting and efficacy;
- Innovative linker technologies enhancing stability and controlled payload release;
- Technological advancement in bioconjugation chemistry;
- Emerging payloads and their mechanisms of action;
- ADC pharmacokinetics, biodistribution, and resistance mechanisms;
- Clinical advancements and regulatory considerations in ADC development;
- Applications of ADCs beyond oncology, including autoimmune and infectious diseases;
- Computational modeling and AI-driven design of next-generation ADCs;
- Combination strategies integrating ADCs with immunotherapy and small molecules.
This Special Issue aims to provide a comprehensive overview of the current landscape and future potential of ADCs in precision medicine. We welcome high-quality contributions that will foster scientific discussion and innovation in this rapidly evolving field.
In addition, we would like to express special thanks to Ha Tran for her contributions to this Special Issue.
Dr. Aiko Yamaguchi
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-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Pharmaceuticals 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 2900 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
- antibody–drug conjugates
- linker technology
- bispecific antibodies
- conditionally activated antibodies
- degrader–antibody conjugates
- antibody–immunotoxin conjugates
- antibody–radionuclide conjugates
- oncology
- autoimmune disease
- infectious disease
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