Zebrafish-Driven Nanobiotechnology: A Platform for Advanced Drug Discovery and Translational Therapeutics

Zebrafish (Danio Rerio) have emerged as a powerful bioengineering platform for next-generation drug discovery, offering an unparalleled combination of genetic tractability, high fecundity, and physiological similarity to humans. Their optical transparency and rapid development enable real-time visualization of organogenesis, neural activity, and disease progression. Advanced tools such as CRISPR/Cas9 gene editing, transgenic reporters, and high-content imaging are increasingly coupled with nanoparticle-enhanced imaging and implantable nanobiosensors to enhance mechanistic insights with remarkable precision at the nanoscale.In drug development, zebrafish facilitate cost-effective, medium- to high-throughput screening of pharmacological candidates, particularly nano-formulated drugs, smart nanocarriers, and novel nanobioconstructs. This provides early in vivo data on efficacy, nanotoxicology, and behavioral outcomes. Integration with computational modeling, nanofluidic-enabled microfluidic biosystems (including zebrafish-on-chip models for nanoscale analysis), and automated phenotyping strengthens translational potential, accelerating the identification of therapeutic targets and bioactive compounds. As a result, zebrafish-driven bioengineering innovations, especially those integrating nanotechnological advancements for precise biological manipulation and analysis, are reshaping modern pharmacology and supporting the development of safer, more effective therapies across diverse biomedical fields.The primary goal of this work is to advance zebrafish-driven bioengineering strategies that enhance the efficiency, precision, and translational value of drug discovery and therapeutic development through the strategic integration of nanobiotechnology. By integrating innovative methodologies—such as CRISPR-based genome engineering, nanoparticle-enhanced high-resolution imaging and single-molecule tracking, automated behavioral analytics, and nanofluidic-enabled microfluidic biosystems (organ-on-chip platforms)—the project aims to establish a robust, scalable pipeline capable of identifying novel drug candidates. These candidates will often include those utilizing intelligent drug delivery via smart nanoparticles or assessed through nanoscale biosensing, with improved safety and efficacy profiles.A key objective is to bridge early-stage discovery with clinically relevant outcomes by leveraging the zebrafish’s unique ability to model human physiological and pathological processes in vivo. This enables the real-time study of nanoscale drug-target interactions, cellular responses to nanobiomaterials, and the impact of nanoscale systems in vivo. Additionally, the initiative seeks to refine predictive nanotoxicology and safety evaluation of nanodevices, accelerate the validation of molecular targets through nanosensing platforms, and foster the development of next-generation therapeutics for neurological, inflammatory, cardiovascular, and metabolic disorders, often by assessing the efficacy and safety of novel nanoscale delivery systems and nanostructured therapeutic materials.Ultimately, this goal supports a transformative paradigm in translational biomedicine, enabling faster, more cost-effective, and mechanistically informed strategies that leverage the power of nanotechnology for unprecedented control and insight at the biological nanoscale, significantly improving the trajectory from laboratory discovery to therapeutic application. Topic editors: Hélcio Silva Dos Santos, Andreia Castro Gomes, Jane Eire Silva Alencar De Menezes Source: https://www.frontiersin.org/research-topics/76758/zebrafish-driven-nanobiotechnology-a-platform-for-advanced-drug-discovery-and-translational-therapeutics