Nanomedicine and Nanotechnology: Recent Advances and Applications

A special issue of Pharmaceutics (ISSN 1999-4923). This special issue belongs to the section "Nanomedicine and Nanotechnology".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 July 2026 | Viewed by 864

Special Issue Editor


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Guest Editor
Department of Pharmaceutics, School of Pharmacy, Fudan University, Shanghai 201203, China
Interests: drug delivery; pharmaceutics; oral delivery; controlled and sustained release; pharmaceutical technology
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Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Nanotechnology continues to redefine the frontiers of pharmaceutical sciences, enabling breakthroughs in targeted drug delivery, diagnostic precision, and therapeutic efficacy that were once deemed unattainable.

This Special Issue aims to curate a collection of high-impact research articles and authoritative reviews that exemplify innovation, originality, and transformative potential at the nexus of nanomaterials, biomedical engineering, and pharmaceutical applications. We seek contributions that illuminate significant advances in the design, synthesis, characterization, and clinical translation of nanoscale systems—spanning smart stimuli-responsive nanocarriers, multifunctional theranostic platforms, nano-bio interaction studies, and emerging applications in gene editing, immunomodulation, or precision medicine. Submissions should emphasize rigorous scientific methodology, clear clinical relevance, and a forward-looking perspective capable of guiding future research trajectories. Priority areas include but are not limited to novel drug delivery systems engineered for spatial-temporal control; nanodiagnostics integrating sensing, imaging, and therapy; mechanistic studies addressing biocompatibility, toxicity, and regulatory pathways; and scalable manufacturing strategies bridging laboratory innovation to clinical practice.

As a curated feature issue, we particularly welcome comprehensive reviews or original research from established researchers whose work has demonstrably influenced the nanomedicine landscape. All submissions will undergo a stringent peer review to ensure scholarly excellence, methodological robustness, and alignment with the journal’s commitment to cutting-edge pharmaceutical nanotechnology. By synthesizing pioneering insights from global experts, this issue aspires to become an enduring reference for academics, clinicians, and industry partners advancing nanoscale solutions to unmet medical challenges.

We cordially invite you to contribute your most impactful work to this timely forum, fostering collaborative progress toward next-generation nanotherapeutics.

Prof. Dr. Wei Wu
Guest Editor

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Keywords

  • novel drug delivery systems engineered for spatial-temporal control
  • nanodiagnostics integrating sensing, imaging, and therapy
  • mechanistic studies addressing biocompatibility, toxicity, and regulatory pathways
  • scalable manufacturing strategies bridging laboratory innovation to clinical practice

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Published Papers (1 paper)

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Research

18 pages, 3021 KB  
Article
Pancreatic Cancer-Targeting Cascade Nanoamplifier Enables Self-Replenishing H2O2 Generation and Autophagy Disruption in Chemodynamic Therapy
by Jiaqi Yu, Lishuai Feng, Yunpeng Tang, Nianhui Yu, Jianning Lin, Yuan Ji and Hui Li
Pharmaceutics 2025, 17(9), 1201; https://doi.org/10.3390/pharmaceutics17091201 - 16 Sep 2025
Viewed by 661
Abstract
Background/Objectives: Conventional therapeutic strategies exhibit limited efficacy against pancreatic cancer, primarily due to its profoundly hypoxic tumor microenvironment and dense fibrotic stroma. Chemodynamic therapy (CDT) holds promise; however, its application in pancreatic cancer is restricted by insufficient endogenous hydrogen peroxide (H2O [...] Read more.
Background/Objectives: Conventional therapeutic strategies exhibit limited efficacy against pancreatic cancer, primarily due to its profoundly hypoxic tumor microenvironment and dense fibrotic stroma. Chemodynamic therapy (CDT) holds promise; however, its application in pancreatic cancer is restricted by insufficient endogenous hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) levels and the activation of protective autophagy in response to oxidative stress. Methods: To overcome these obstacles, we developed a tumor microenvironment-responsive, pancreatic cancer-targeted CDT nanoamplifier—H-MnO2/GOX&CQ-iRGD—comprising a hollow mesoporous MnO2 shell co-loaded with glucose oxidase (GOX) and chloroquine (CQ), and surface-functionalized with the tumor-penetrating peptide iRGD. GOX catalyzes glucose oxidation to generate H2O2, enhancing Fenton-like reactions. CQ suppresses autophagy induced by oxidative stress, thereby alleviating therapy resistance. The iRGD peptide targets integrin αvβ3, which is overexpressed on pancreatic cancer cells and tumor vasculature, promoting deep tumor penetration and enhanced delivery efficiency. Results: We comprehensively characterized the nanoplatform’s physicochemical properties, tumor microenvironment triggered degradation, controlled drug release, glucose-driven H2O2 generation, and hydroxyl radical production in vitro. Cellular studies assessed nanoparticle uptake, intracellular H2O2 production, autophagy inhibition, and cytotoxicity. In vivo experiments further demonstrated effective tumor targeting and significant therapeutic outcomes in pancreatic cancer models. Conclusions: This nanoplatform addresses major barriers of CDT—namely, insufficient H2O2 levels, autophagy-mediated resistance, and limited intratumoral penetration—offering a promising strategy for pancreatic cancer treatment. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Nanomedicine and Nanotechnology: Recent Advances and Applications)
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