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Multifunctional Nanoparticles: Diagnostics, Therapy, and Beyond

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

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 20 November 2026 | Viewed by 840

Special Issue Editors


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Guest Editor
Department of Physics, University of Sonora, Hermosillo 83000, Sonora, Mexico
Interests: theranostic nanomaterials; gold nanoparticles; surface-enhanced Raman catterine (SERS); plasmonic photothermal therapy; magnetic hyperthermia; breast-cancer; radiation biosensing

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Guest Editor
College of Pharmacy, Yonsei University, Incheon 21983, Republic of Korea
Interests: biopharmaceuticals; stability; formulation; quality; machine learning; physicochemical properties

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The complex and diverse nature of disease within each individual—arising from variations at cellular, molecular, and systemic levels that influence onset, progression, and treatment response—poses a significant challenge for precision medicine. Addressing this intra-patient variability requires adaptable diagnostic and therapeutic strategies that respond to both the patient and the evolving characteristics of their condition. Multifunctional nanoparticles provide a versatile platform that seamlessly integrates diagnostics, therapy, and real-time monitoring within a single, precisely engineered nanostructure capable of tackling complexity across multiple biological scales.

Recent advances in theranostic nanoparticle engineering have enabled the development of customizable nanostructures with tailored size, surface chemistry, and quantum properties. These multifunctional systems support a wide array of biomedical applications, including high-resolution imaging, image-guided surgery, controlled and stimuli-responsive drug delivery, early disease detection, continuous biomarker monitoring, and selective purification of biological fluids. Their inherent versatility enhances sensitivity, specificity, and biocompatibility, while reducing off-target effects and invasiveness.

Positioned at the forefront of personalized medicine, multifunctional nanoparticles are especially promising for managing complex diseases such as cancer. This Special Issue highlights the latest interdisciplinary progress in designing and applying these nanomedical tools, emphasizing their transformative potential in diagnostics, therapy, and beyond.

Dr. Karla Santacruz-Gomez
Dr. Seong Hoon Jeong
Guest Editors

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Keywords

  • multifunctional nanoparticles
  • theranostic nanoplatforms
  • stimuli-responsive drug delivery
  • nanoparticle-based biomedical imaging
  • early disease detection with nanotechnology
  • real-time biomarker monitoring

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Published Papers (2 papers)

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Research

14 pages, 13784 KB  
Article
Polyphosphoester-Based Nanocarriers for Combined X-Ray-Induced Photodynamic Therapy and Immunotherapy
by Han Zhang, Weijie Hu, Busharemu Reheman, Ningnannan Zhang, Junping Wang, Zhang Zhang and Chunyang Sun
Pharmaceutics 2026, 18(4), 399; https://doi.org/10.3390/pharmaceutics18040399 - 24 Mar 2026
Viewed by 69
Abstract
Background: The combination of photodynamic therapy (PDT) and immunotherapy has been explored as an innovative approach to enhance efficacy against tumors. However, PDT shows limited effectiveness in treating deep-seated tumors, as light and lasers do not sufficiently penetrate tissue. Methods: Herein, [...] Read more.
Background: The combination of photodynamic therapy (PDT) and immunotherapy has been explored as an innovative approach to enhance efficacy against tumors. However, PDT shows limited effectiveness in treating deep-seated tumors, as light and lasers do not sufficiently penetrate tissue. Methods: Herein, we introduced a nanocarrier (NPVR) via self-assembly, using an amphiphilic copolymer to co-deliver the hydrophobic photosensitizer verteporfin (VP) and the immunoadjuvant imiquimod (R837). Results: Our X-ray-induced photodynamic therapy (X-PDT) mechanism induced NPVR to generate a large amount of cytotoxic reactive oxygen species (ROS), which directly killed cancer cells. Moreover, the released R837 facilitated immunogenic cell death following the X-PDT process and promoted the maturation of dendritic cells (DCs), thereby eliciting immune responses against malignant triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC). In animal experiments, the combined therapy using NPVR showed a tumor growth inhibition rate of ~70%. Conclusions: This novel strategy opens new avenues to designing next-generation nanomedicines for use in immunotherapy and other combination therapies. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Multifunctional Nanoparticles: Diagnostics, Therapy, and Beyond)
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13 pages, 1412 KB  
Article
Gold Nanorods Embedded in Mesoporous Silica for Photothermal Therapy and SERS Monitoring in T47D Breast Cancer Cells
by Annel Armenta-Gamez, Alejandro Pedroza-Montero, Alejandra Tapia-Villasenor, Erika Silva-Campa, Hector Loro, Rodrigo Melendrez, Sergio A. Aguila and Karla Santacruz-Gomez
Pharmaceutics 2026, 18(3), 310; https://doi.org/10.3390/pharmaceutics18030310 - 28 Feb 2026
Viewed by 443
Abstract
Background: The development of plasmonic photothermal therapy (PPTT) to trigger cancer cells is often hindered by uncontrolled overheating and the lack of real-time feedback. Methods: In this study, we report the synthesis of gold nanorod-embedded mesoporous silica nanoshells (AuNR@Si) as a multifunctional theranostic [...] Read more.
Background: The development of plasmonic photothermal therapy (PPTT) to trigger cancer cells is often hindered by uncontrolled overheating and the lack of real-time feedback. Methods: In this study, we report the synthesis of gold nanorod-embedded mesoporous silica nanoshells (AuNR@Si) as a multifunctional theranostic platform designed for controlled hyperthermia and surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) monitoring. Using a layer-by-layer templating strategy, AuNRs were successfully obtained within a hollow silica architecture. Results: While AuNRs alone exhibited rapid photothermal spikes reaching 64 °C, the AuNR@Si platform moderated the photothermal response, maintaining a stable therapeutic window (41–45 °C). In vitro assays using T47D breast cancer cells demonstrated a 33% reduction in viability following irradiation. Furthermore, the structural stability of the AuNR@Si platform enabled SERS monitoring of cellular damage, identifying specific biochemical fingerprints of protein denaturation, cytochrome c release and DNA fragmentation. Conclusions: These results suggest that AuNR@Si nanoshells provide a safer, regulated approach to photothermal ablation with the added benefit of molecular detection, demonstrating proof-of-concept theranostic functionality in a luminal breast cancer model. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Multifunctional Nanoparticles: Diagnostics, Therapy, and Beyond)
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