Aug 2026· Nanomedicine: Nanotechnology, Biology and Medicine· Vol 76, pp.
103002
· 0 citations· 114 references
Medicine
TL;DR
The integration of engineered microorganisms and nanomaterials represents a promising strategy for next-generation precision oncology and may accelerate the development of more effective and personalized cancer therapies.
Abstract
The convergence of synthetic biology and nanotechnology has created new opportunities for cancer diagnosis and therapy. Engineered microorganisms exhibit unique tumor-targeting, colonization, and immunomodulatory capabilities, while nanomaterials provide versatile platforms for drug delivery, imaging, and controlled therapeutic release. This review summarizes recent advances in the application of engineered microorganisms and nanomaterials in oncology, with a focus on their mechanisms of action, therapeutic potential, and translational challenges. We discuss the roles of the tumor microbiome in cancer progression, microbial engineering strategies for tumor targeting and immune regulation, and the development of nanomaterial-based delivery systems and immunotherapies. Particular attention is given to microbe-nanomaterial hybrid platforms, which combine the advantages of both systems to enhance therapeutic efficacy and modulate the tumor microenvironment. Finally, key challenges related to biosafety, biocompatibility, regulatory approval, and clinical translation are highlighted. The integration of engineered microorganisms and nanomaterials represents a promising strategy for next-generation precision oncology and may accelerate the development of more effective and personalized cancer therapies.
Hypoxia, immunosuppression, and pronounced heterogeneity within the tumor microenvironment (TME) hinder the effectiveness of cancer therapies. Engineered bacteria–nanomaterial hybrid systems have emerged as a promising approach to address these challenges. Bacterial chassis provide active tumor targeting, deep tissue penetration, and in situ proliferation, facilitating the precise delivery of immunomodulators. Concurrently, nanomaterials interfaced with these living carriers can be activated by external physical stimuli, inducing photothermal, photodynamic, sonodynamic, and magnetothermal effects within solid tumors. These interactions promote immunogenic cell death (ICD) and enable real-time monitoring. Recent advances in synthetic biology and nanotechnology have led to the development of an expanding range of preclinical biohybrid platforms, while several related components, including bacterial therapeutics, bacterial derivatives, and physically activated nanomedicine platforms, have progressed into clinical evaluation. This review first explores the origins and roles of tumor-associated bacteria. It then summarizes strategies for engineering bacteria–nanomaterial hybrid systems. Subsequently, this review examines how physical stimuli enhance targeting, remodel the TME, and amplify antitumor immunity. Finally, safety, manufacturing, and regulatory challenges impacting clinical translation are discussed. Overall, these platforms offer a potentially powerful framework for precision cancer immunotherapy. However, successful clinical translation will require stronger evidence regarding safety, controllability, manufacturing consistency, and therapeutic efficacy.
Jiayue Lin, Ming An, Yuxin Dai et al.· Research· 0 citations
Targeted cancer therapies increasingly require platforms that can penetrate poorly perfused tumor regions while minimizing systemic toxicity. Bacteria, owing to their intrinsic tumor tropism, genetic programmability, and immunostimulatory properties, have re-emerged as versatile anticancer agents, ranging from attenuated tumor-colonizing strains to highly engineered “living therapeutics.” In this review, we synthesize the mechanistic foundations and therapeutic advances of bacterial-based cancer therapy through four major themes. First, we examine foundational mechanisms, including tumor-selective colonization, direct oncolysis and cytotoxicity, activation of innate and adaptive immunity, and remodeling of the tumor microenvironment. Second, we discuss engineering strategies that enable controllable delivery of therapeutic payloads, such as cytokines, antibodies and nanobodies, enzyme-prodrug systems, toxins, and nucleic-acid therapeutics, while also improving biosafety and biocontainment. Third, we evaluate combination strategies integrating bacteria with chemotherapy, radiotherapy, phototherapy, and immunotherapy, with emphasis on how bacteria complement conventional modalities by targeting hypoxic, necrotic, and immunologically refractory tumor niches. Fourth, we summarize translational progress, including representative early-phase clinical experiences, manufacturing challenges, and major safety constraints. We also highlight emerging microbiome-disease databases and computational resources that may support target selection, biomarker discovery, and therapy-response stratification. Current evidence supports bacteria as a promising precision modality, particularly for immunologically “cold” or hypoxic tumors; however, major challenges remain in the predictability of intratumoral distribution, host clearance, genetic stability, and long-term safety. Addressing these barriers through rigorous engineering, standardized manufacturing, and clinically meaningful endpoints will be essential for the next generation of bacterial therapeutics in oncology.
Arman H. Sharifi, Ngoc Hai Trieu Phong, Anjali Marek et al.· Molecular Biomedicine· 0 citations
Cancer remains one of the leading causes of morbidity and mortality worldwide despite substantial advances in diagnosis and treatment. Conventional therapeutic approaches, including chemotherapy, radiotherapy, surgery, and immunotherapy, are often limited by poor tumor selectivity, systemic toxicity, multidrug resistance, and inadequate drug accumulation at the disease site. Nanomedicine has emerged as a transformative strategy in oncology, offering innovative solutions for targeted drug delivery, improved pharmacokinetics, enhanced therapeutic efficacy, and reduced off-target toxicity. Owing to their unique physicochemical properties, nanoparticles can be engineered to overcome biological barriers associated with tumor progression and facilitate precise delivery of therapeutic and diagnostic agents. This review comprehensively discusses the fundamental principles of cancer nanomedicine, including tumor biology, barriers to drug delivery, and critical design considerations for nanocarrier development. Various classes of nanomaterials, including polymeric nanoparticles, lipid-based systems, inorganic nanomaterials, and emerging biomimetic platforms, are examined with respect to their structural characteristics, therapeutic applications, and translational potential. Particular emphasis is placed on tumor-targeting strategies, encompassing passive, active, and microenvironment-responsive approaches, as well as on the development of smart stimuli-responsive nanocarriers capable of controlled, site-specific drug release. Furthermore, recent advances in nanotechnology-enabled chemotherapy, combination therapy, gene and RNA delivery, immuno-nanomedicine, and theranostic platforms are highlighted. The integration of diagnostic imaging and therapeutic functions within multifunctional nanocarriers has enabled real-time monitoring of treatment response and personalized cancer management. In addition, challenges associated with safety, toxicity, large-scale manufacturing, regulatory approval, and clinical translation are critically evaluated. Emerging innovations, including artificial intelligence-driven nanocarrier design, biomimetic nanomedicines, and precision oncology approaches, are also explored as future directions for the field.Overall, cancer nanomedicine has evolved from a simple drug-delivery concept into a multifunctional therapeutic platform integrating targeted therapy, molecular imaging, immunomodulation, gene therapy, and personalized medicine. Continued interdisciplinary collaboration and technological innovation are expected to accelerate the clinical translation of next-generation nanomedicines, ultimately improving treatment outcomes and advancing precision cancer care.
Fouzan Arif Mulla Mulla, Mo Saad Sanaullah Khan Khan, Irfan Nizamuddin Mansuri Mansuri et al.· Journal of Pharmacology, Gen...· 0 citations
Advances in nanotechnology have produced a range of strategies for cancer treatment. Among the materials under investigation, Gold Nanoparticles (AuNPs) are attractive candidates for immunotherapy because of their distinctive physicochemical properties and biocompatibility.
This narrative review draws on studies retrieved from PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science between 2020 and 2025 and describes the mechanisms, therapeutic applications, and clinical development of AuNPs.
AuNPs enhance immune responses by delivering antigens to dendritic cells and T cells and by remodeling the tumor microenvironment. Their photothermal and photodynamic properties damage tumors while activating immunity. Surface modification reduces systemic toxicity, and PEGylation and ligand conjugation improve targeting. Preclinical and early clinical studies indicate that AuNPs can enhance tumor regression and improve treatment response.
AuNPs can serve in drug delivery, immune modulation, and photothermal therapy. Although the results are promising, challenges remain in large-scale synthesis, long-term safety, and regulatory approval. Addressing these factors is essential for successful clinical translation.
Gold nanoparticles represent a promising development in cancer immunotherapy, combining targeted delivery, immune activation, and photothermal effects. Continued optimization and safety evaluation will be essential if AuNPs are to become integral to next-generation personalized cancer treatment. Unlike previous reviews, this work provides a systems-level framework for AuNP-based cancer immunotherapy by integrating mechanistic data, translational bottlenecks, and quantitative comparisons between synthesis methods and nanocarrier systems.
V. R. Jallepalli, Angum M. M. Ibrahim, Anasuya Patil et al.· Current Nanomedicine· 0 citations
Colon cancer (CC) is a leading cause of cancer-related mortality worldwide, and its poor prognostic outcome can be attributed to factors such as late diagnosis, tumor heterogeneity, and the failure of conventional chemotherapeutic therapies. Biomimetic nanomaterials that can mimic biological behaviors have recently generated transformative drug carriers with higher biocompatibility, evasion of the immune system, and tumor-seeking capabilities. In this review, recent progresses in biomimetic systems are summarized, such as cell membrane-coated nanoparticles, exosome-based carriers, and ligand-modified nanostructures, with a particular focus on their design paradigm and drug delivery mechanisms and the therapeutic potentiality in CC. Although preclinical investigations reveal potential response, translational barriers to clinical application remain considerable including but not limited to scalability in nanomaterial manufacturing, batch variability in produced materials, and regulatory challenges under FD/EMA regulation. Possible solutions involve cost-effective and scalable macrofluidic and automated bioreactor technologies, comprehensive protocols of exosome isolation and nanoparticle characterization, and systemic harmonization with regulatory frameworks for safety and quality at a stage earlier than the end of the process. Future directions towards combining biomimetic nanocarriers with gene-editing tools, immunotherapies, and phytochemical-based agents for synergistic effects, and the development of novel theranostic systems integrating diagnosis and treatment will be pursued. Overcoming these translational hurdles and interdisciplinary collaborations are critical for biomimetic nanomaterials to fulfil their huge potential to move colon cancer therapy closer to a safer, more effective and clinically practicable reality.
Skin cancer is a highly heterogeneous malignancy with increasing incidence and limited therapeutic efficacy from conventional treatments due to poor specificity, inadequate drug penetration, and resistance. Nanomaterial-based platforms have emerged as promising strategies to address these challenges by enabling precise diagnosis and targeted therapy. This review summarizes recent advances in nanomaterial-mediated theranostics for skin cancer, including organic, inorganic, and biomimetic or hybrid nanosystems. Their roles in enhancing drug delivery through passive and active targeting, improving transdermal penetration, and enabling controlled release are highlighted. Emerging diagnostic approaches based on nanotechnology, such as imaging and biosensing, are also discussed for sensitive and noninvasive detection. In addition, nanoplatform-enabled multimodal therapies that integrate chemotherapy, phototherapy, gene therapy, and immunotherapy are presented, with particular emphasis on microneedle-assisted transdermal systems. Despite the remaining challenges in terms of biosafety, scalability, and clinical translation, nanomaterials offer significant potential for advancing precise and personalized skin cancer management.
Yu-Lung Hsieh, Jun Xie, Shaohua Jiang et al.· Journal of materials chemist...· 0 citations
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