Advances in nanomedicine: from design and formulation to regenerative application and theranostics

Abstract

The present review thoroughly encompasses the key applications of nanomedicine in drug delivery, tissue regeneration and theranostics. Herein, a dual-pathway presentation approach is proposed: on one side, a material-based perspective, including innovative techniques for targeted drug delivery, tissue engineering and theranostics, is presented, while on the other side, a focus on the most rising high-impact diseases is highlighted, to be precisely addressed with different strategies. Concerning the material and platform techniques, the review spans from the design of natural-derived materials to innovative regenerative techniques, while comparing the potential of functionalized carbon-based nanomaterials. Furthermore, different pathways to overcome the physiological barriers presented by high-impact inflammatory conditions, such as fibrotic diseases, and cancers are described. Both natural and synthetic nanoplatforms are elucidated, with a specific aim to finely tune targeted drug delivery systems (DDSs) and theranostic tools. The comparison from both nanotechnology and regenerative medicine perspectives represents a promising frontier to identify and choose the most effective strategies to treat pathological conditions that have been causing mortality for the past few decades. Finally, with research efforts improving every day owing to the translational merging of different disciplines, this review identifies that patients can now rely on a wide variety of new therapeutic approaches.