Smart Nanosystems for Cancer: From Stimuli-Responsive Delivery to Radionuclide- and Imaging-Guided Theranostics

Nanotechnology has reshaped precision oncology by giving unprecedented control over where therapeutic and diagnostic agents act. Smart nanosystems — built with targeting ligands, stimuli-responsive elements, and multifunctional architectures — can deliver the right payload to the tumor while sparing healthy tissue. In parallel, nuclear medicine and molecular imaging make it possible to see, quantify, and treat disease at the molecular level. Bringing these strengths together, nano-enabled theranostics can carry drugs and radionuclides, report their own biodistribution by PET/SPECT or multimodal imaging, and unite diagnosis with therapy in a single, trackable platform.This Research Topic covers smart nanosystems for cancer across two connected fronts: (i) stimuli-responsive, tumor-targeted delivery and combination nanotherapy, and (ii) radionuclide- and imaging-guided theranostics, where radiolabeled nanocarriers and nanoparticle-enhanced radiopharmaceuticals enable image-guided diagnosis and targeted radionuclide therapy. What distinguishes this Topic from conventional nano-drug-delivery collections is its explicit integration of nuclear medicine and radiochemistry with nanomaterial engineering — from chelation and radiolabeling to dosimetry and normal-organ sparing. We welcome contributions that couple mechanistic nanomaterial design with imaging-based validation and translational vision.To fit the Nanobiotechnology section, the reported advance should depend on a nanoscale or material component or particle-dependent effect; conventional small-molecule or peptide radiotracers may be included when a nanomaterial, nanocarrier, or nanoparticle-enabled strategy is central. By bridging pharmaceutical delivery science, radiopharmaceutical and imaging science, and nanomaterial chemistry, this Topic aims to advance a new generation of intelligent, imaging-integrated nanosystems for cancer diagnosis and therapy.This Research Topic welcomes Original Research articles, Reviews, and Perspectives related to:1. Radiolabeled nanocarriers and nanoparticle-enhanced radiopharmaceuticals for cancer theranostics (matched diagnostic/therapeutic radionuclide pairs).2. PET/SPECT and multimodal nanoprobes (radionuclide/MRI/optical) for nanodiagnostics, staging, and image-guided treatment.3. Targeted radionuclide therapy with nanocarriers, including alpha-/beta-emitter delivery and radiochemistry, chelation, and dosimetry of nanoscale theranostics.4. Design and engineering of smart, multifunctional nanosystems for cancer therapy and monitoring.5. Stimuli-responsive nanomaterials and hydrogels (pH-, ROS-, enzyme-responsive) for triggered, site-specific release.6. Ligand-, tumor-, and microenvironment-targeted nanoplatforms (e.g., FAP, integrin αvβ3, CD13) for selective drug and radionuclide delivery.7. Cancer nanotechnology and combination nanotherapies (chemo-, radio-, and immuno-combinations).8. Oral, mucosal, and colon-targeted nanodelivery, including mucoadhesive/thiolated systems and natural polysaccharide-based carriers.9. Preclinical and translational evaluation of nano-theranostics — imaging-based efficacy, biocompatibility, dosimetry, and clinical translation.Submissions that link a nanoscale or material-based innovation with imaging-guided diagnosis and/or radionuclide therapy — combining mechanistic insight, rigorous validation, and translational vision — will be especially valued. Topic editors: Xiaotian Xia, Yongkang Gai, Sobia Noreen Source: https://www.frontiersin.org/research-topics/83397/smart-nanosystems-for-cancer-from-stimuli-responsive-delivery-to-radionuclide--and-imaging-guided-theranostics