Advancing Targeted Nanomedicine: From Delivery Strategies to Precision Therapy

Targeted nanomedicine combines nanotechnology, biomaterials, drug delivery, molecular medicine, and disease biology to enhance the spatiotemporal control of therapeutic agents. Through ligand- and receptor-mediated delivery, microenvironment-responsive activation, biomimetic engineering, and multifunctional platform design, these systems offer opportunities to improve drug accumulation at pathological sites, reduce off-target toxicity, modulate disease microenvironments, and integrate therapeutic, diagnostic, imaging, or theranostic functions. However, the successful translation of these nanoscale platforms into clinical reality remains constrained by biological barriers, heterogeneous disease microenvironments, limited targeting efficiency, immunological responses, and safety concerns. To advance this field, there is a clear need for integrative research that moves beyond material preparation alone, coupling rational nanoplatform design with in-depth mechanistic investigation, biologically relevant evaluation, and reliable in vivo validation.This Research Topic aims to highlight recent advances in targeted nanomedicine as it evolves from a delivery-centered approach toward precision therapy. By emphasizing both therapeutic innovation and biological relevance, this collection seeks to showcase strategies that enhance therapeutic selectivity, efficiency, and safety through rational nanoplatform engineering and functional optimization. Key objectives include exploring how these systems can overcome biological barriers, modulate pathological microenvironments, and deliver integrated therapeutic and diagnostic functions. Ultimately, this collection aims to provide a timely overview of how targeted nanomedicine can improve therapeutic efficacy, minimize off-target toxicity, and support the translation of material innovation into precise, clinically meaningful treatments.To gather further insights into the evolving field of targeted nanomedicine and its application in precision therapy, we welcome submissions addressing, but not limited to, the following themes:• Ligand- and receptor-mediated delivery (including cell- and tissue-specific targeting)• Stimuli-responsive release and microenvironment-adaptive nanoplatforms• Biomimetic, hybrid, bioinspired, and supramolecular nanocarriers• Nanomaterials-based targeted drug delivery specifically for cancer diagnosis and treatment• Pharmacokinetics, biodistribution, and biosafety of nanomedicines• Nanomedicine-immune system interactions, crosstalk, and immune modulation• Theranostic applications and molecular imaging-guided drug delivery• Vascular targeting and disease-specific delivery (including cancer, cardiovascular, inflammatory, infectious, and neurological conditions, as well as regenerative medicine)• Translational strategies and preclinical evidence supporting therapeutic performance, safety, and clinical translatability• Ethical and safety considerations in nanomedicine development and nano-based drug delivery systemsWe welcome Original Research, Reviews, Mini Reviews, Perspectives, and related article types focusing on targeted nanomedicine systems, including polymeric, lipid-based, inorganic, supramolecular, biomimetic, bioinspired, and hybrid nanoplatforms. Topic editors: Chi Lin, Nagesh Kolishetti, Simona Badilescu Source: https://www.frontiersin.org/research-topics/82469/advancing-targeted-nanomedicine-from-delivery-strategies-to-precision-therapy