Overcoming Multidrug Resistance in Cancer: Clay-Based Nanomaterials as Next-Generation Drug Delivery Platforms

Multidrug resistance (MDR) remains one of the central obstacles to effective cancer chemotherapy. Cancer cells’ capacity to withstand multiple chemotherapy agents significantly reduces treatment effectiveness, driving the search for new therapeutic strategies and drug delivery systems. Clay-based nanomaterials, including natural and modified clays, nanoclays, and layered hydroxides, are gaining attention as drug carriers due to their biocompatibility and distinctive physicochemical properties. These naturally sourced and engineered materials are being explored for their potential to improve drug uptake and persistence in cancerous tissues. Advancing this area could lead to better therapeutic outcomes for patients facing resistant tumours, offering a new route toward more effective cancer treatment where conventional chemotherapy falls short.This Research Topic aims to investigate the application of clay-based nanomaterials in addressing MDR in cancer therapy. It intends to answer key questions on the interactions between these nanomaterials and biological systems, particularly their role in boosting the bioavailability and potency of anticancer drugs. The goal is to evaluate their ability to form advanced, biocompatible therapeutic platforms that can disrupt the resistance pathways cancer cells rely on, opening new avenues for intervention. By bringing together research on clay-cell interactions, carrier design, and comparative material performance, this collection aims to clarify where clay-based nanomaterials offer a genuine advantage over existing delivery systems, and to identify the biological and technical barriers that still need resolving before these platforms can move toward clinical application.We welcome articles addressing, but not limited to, the following themes• How clays and layered nanomaterials interact with cancer cells, tissues, and biomolecules• Design of clay-centred carriers and drug delivery solutions, including layered double hydroxides• Comparative analysis of natural versus modified clays in medical applications• Assessment of clay-based nanomaterials’ biocompatibility and safety in therapeutic use• Interdisciplinary strategies using clay-based nanomaterials to overcome MDR in cancer.We invite contributions in the form of reviews, original research, and communications addressing these themes from materials science, pharmaceutical science, and oncology perspectives. Authors are encouraged to include mechanistic data on drug-carrier interactions and, where possible, comparative evidence against conventional delivery systems. Topic editors: Marina Massaro, Serena Riela, Raquel De Melo Barbosa, RITA SÁNCHEZ ESPEJO Source: https://www.frontiersin.org/research-topics/86527/overcoming-multidrug-resistance-in-cancer-clay-based-nanomaterials-as-next-generation-drug-delivery-platforms