Functionalized Nanomaterials for Hepatic Drug Delivery

Liver diseases remain a major global health burden, spanning chronic hepatitis, fibrosis, cirrhosis, and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). While the liver’s unique physiology (fenestrated endothelium, resident macrophages, intense metabolic capacity) makes it an attractive target for selective drug accumulation, it also creates delivery barriers, off-target uptake, and toxicity risks. Functionalized nanomaterials are engineered with tunable size, surface chemistry, and targeting ligands, offering a powerful route to improve hepatic localization, enable cell-specific delivery (e.g., hepatocytes, hepatic macrophages, stellate cells), and support emerging payloads such as nucleic acids.This Research Topic aims to showcase cutting-edge advances in functionalized nanomaterials designed for hepatic drug delivery, bridging fundamental materials engineering with translational development. We seek to spotlight interdisciplinary contributions at the interface of pharmaceutics, nanotechnology, and liver pathophysiology. These encompass submissions that clarify how rational nano-functionalization strategies (e.g., ligand targeting, stimuli-responsiveness, biomimetic coatings) can enhance efficacy and safety, accelerate the clinical readiness of hepatic-directed dosage forms, and enable next-generation therapeutics, including mRNA and gene therapies. We’re particularly interested in mechanistic understanding (biodistribution, cellular uptake, intracellular trafficking), manufacturability, and predictive assessment frameworks that help translate promising platforms from bench to bedside.We welcome Original Research, Reviews, Mini-Reviews, Methods, and Perspective articles addressing nanomaterial-enabled delivery for liver diagnosis and therapy. Submissions may focus on the design, characterization, and evaluation of functionalized systems, as well as modelling and safety assessment approaches that support translation in hepatic indications.Subthemes welcome include, but are not limited to:o Cell-specific targeting in the liver: hepatocytes, Kupffer cells/hepatic macrophages, LSECs, and hepatic stellate cellso Nanomaterials for liver cancer (HCC) diagnosis, therapy, and theranostics, including nanodiagnosiso Delivery systems for mRNA and gene therapies: LNPs, polymers, hybrid systems and endosomal escape strategieso Nano-enabled therapies for hepatitis and liver infectious diseases, improving tissue-selective exposure and efficacyo Anti-fibrotic hepatic delivery: drug/gene delivery to stellate cells, and microenvironment-responsive systemso In vitro/in silico development pipelines, including organoids/microphysiological systems and PBPK/PD modellingo Safety, toxicokinetics, and translation, including hepatic toxicity/immunogenicity plus manufacturing and scale-up considerationsThis Research Topic will serve as a focused forum for actionable design principles and translational evidence supporting safe, effective, and manufacturable hepatic nanomedicines. Topic editors: Sara Meirinho, Márcio José De Abreu Marques Rodrigues, José M. Lanao Source: https://www.frontiersin.org/research-topics/78435/functionalized-nanomaterials-for-hepatic-drug-delivery