International journal of molecular sciencesMar 14, 2026

Designing Nanoparticles for Use in Cancer Treatment

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Updated Mar 17, 2026

Abstract

Nanoparticle strategies are evolving into multifunctional platforms for cancer therapy.

Nanoparticles are moving from passive drug carriers to systems that can actively target tumors and respond to their surroundings.
Major types of nanoparticles include lipid-based, polymeric, inorganic, and bioinspired materials, each with unique properties and biological interactions.
Targeting strategies discussed include passive, active, stimuli-responsive, and approaches that engage immune cells.
Nanoparticles may help overcome challenges in the tumor microenvironment, such as abnormal blood vessels and immunosuppression.
Cancer immunotherapy strategies utilizing nanoparticles include vaccine delivery and mRNA-lipid systems, alongside traditional therapies.
Safety, toxicity, and translational issues remain significant barriers to the clinical use of nanoparticle-based cancer treatments.

Simplified

Nanoparticle-based strategies have emerged as a versatile and powerful approach for cancer therapy, enabling the integration of material science, molecular biology, and immunology into multifunctional therapeutic platforms. Over the past decade, significant advances in nanoparticle design have expanded their potential beyond passive drug carriers toward systems capable of active targeting, microenvironment-responsive behavior, and immune modulation. This review provides a comprehensive and up-to-date overview of the major nanoparticle platforms developed for cancer treatment, including lipid-based, polymeric, inorganic, and bioinspired nanomaterials, with particular emphasis on their structure-property relationships and biological interactions. We discuss key targeting strategies, spanning passive, active, stimuli-responsive, and cellular or immune-mediated approaches, and analyze how nanoparticles can overcome biological barriers imposed by the tumor microenvironment, such as abnormal vasculature, dense extracellular matrix, hypoxia, and immunosuppression. Special attention is given to nanoparticle-enabled cancer immunotherapy, including vaccine delivery, mRNA-lipid nanoparticle systems, and combination strategies that integrate immunotherapy with conventional treatments. Finally, we critically examine safety, toxicity, and translational challenges that continue to limit the clinical impact of cancer nanomedicine, highlighting the importance of biologically informed design, manufacturing robustness, and regulatory considerations. By synthesizing current advances and identifying emerging trends, this review aims to provide a framework for the rational development of next-generation nanoparticle-based cancer therapies with improved clinical relevance.

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Competing interests

The author declares no conflicts of interest. The author serves as Guest Editor of the Special Issue “Development of Responsive Nanoparticles for Cancer Therapy, 3rd Edition” in the International Journal of Molecular Sciences . In accordance with journal policy, the manuscript was handled independently by other members of the editorial board, and the Guest Editor had no involvement in the editorial decision-making process for this article.

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Designing Nanoparticles for Use in Cancer Treatment

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Competing interests

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