NUCLEIC ACID AND PROTEIN-BASED NANOTHERAPEUTICS FOR PRECISION MEDICINE
Abstract
Nucleic acid and protein-based nanotherapeutics have emerged as revolutionary approaches in the field of precision medicine, offering highly targeted treatments for various diseases, including cancer, genetic disorders, and viral infections. Traditional therapies often face challenges such as off-target effects, limited bioavailability, and inadequate therapeutic outcomes. Nanotechnology, leveraging the unique properties of nucleic acids (DNA/RNA) and proteins encapsulated in nanomaterials, provides solutions to these limitations by enabling controlled drug release, targeted delivery, and enhanced therapeutic efficacy. This study explores the potential of nucleic acid and protein-based nanotherapeutics in precision medicine, focusing on their mechanisms, applications, and future prospects. The research employs in vitro and in vivo models to evaluate the delivery efficiency, biocompatibility, and therapeutic effectiveness of these nanotherapeutics. The results indicate that nucleic acid-based nanoparticles, such as siRNA and DNA, show significant efficacy in gene silencing and expression modulation, while protein-based nanocarriers demonstrate enhanced targeting of specific cells and tissues. In conclusion, nucleic acid and protein-based nanotherapeutics offer promising advances in precision medicine, providing a new paradigm for treating diseases with high specificity and reduced side effects.
Full text article
References
Abedi, K., Pavelick, J. L., dos Santos, C. C., & Young, E. W. K. (2026). Advances in lung-on-a-chip platforms for nanotherapeutic evaluation and screening. Advanced Drug Delivery Reviews, 234, 115873. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.addr.2026.115873
Arora, S., Panghal, A., Kumar, J., & Singh, C. (2025). Chapter 5—Nanotherapeutics in pulmonary infections. In A. Kumar & P. Parashar (Eds.), Applications of Nanotherapeutics and Nanotheranostics in Managing Infectious Diseases (pp. 81–114). Academic Press. https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-443-28836-4.00005-6
Choudhury, S., Tamang, R., Singh, V., Saad, M., Yadav, P., & Talegaonkar, S. (2026). Chapter 14—Advanced strategies to improve the accumulation of nanotherapeutics in tumor. In Concepts of Combating Chemoresistance in Cancer Therapeutics (pp. 465–492). Academic Press. https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-443-33343-9.00012-0
Dighe, S., Manchanda, N., Sharma, S., & Jain, S. (2025). Nutrient-transporter driven cytotoxic potential: An emerging nanotherapeutic approach. Drug Discovery Today, 30(10), 104478. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.drudis.2025.104478
Fei, W., Qian, W., Xin, Y., Liu, Y., Wu, X., Zhou, X., Zhou, Y., Fan, X., Ye, Y., & Zheng, C. (2026). Engineering lysosomal collapse for cancer therapy: From mechanistic insights to nanotherapeutic innovations. International Journal of Pharmaceutics, 692, 126651. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijpharm.2026.126651
Fu, X., Zhang, M., Chen, C., Qin, X., He, Q., Yang, Y., Xu, S., Chen, G., Xian, H., Sun, G., He, Y., Lin, Y., & Wang, T. (2025). Tetrahedral framework nucleic acid-based delivery of microRNA-29b: A precision nanotherapeutic strategy for oral submucous fibrosis. Chemical Engineering Journal, 515, 163736. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cej.2025.163736
Gao, Z., Du, S., Song, J., Gao, Y., Peng, X., Lin, X., E, S., Zhao, Y., & Zhang, S. (2026). Aptamer–liposome targeted nanotherapeutics for cancer therapy: Bibliometric analysis, recent developments and future perspectives. Materials Today Bio, 36, 102766. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.mtbio.2026.102766
Gorad, R., Nangare, S., Gadhave, D., Dhadde, S., & Jadhav, N. (2026). Customization of dextran-based advanced nanotherapeutics in glioblastoma multiforme management: Promises, progress, and prospects. International Journal of Biological Macromolecules, 364, 152334. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2026.152334
He, Z., Liu, Y., Chen, Y., Zhang, Y., Zhang, Y., Chen, Z., Bao, D., Yang, W., & Liu, H. (2025). Tetrahedral framework nucleic acids: Nanokeys unlocking a new era of precision biomedicine. Journal of Advanced Research. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jare.2025.10.052
Hermain, S., Harshitha, K. S., & Naveen, N. R. (2026). Beyond chemotherapy: The rise of nucleic acid nanoformulations in personalized lung cancer therapy. Cancer Pathogenesis and Therapy. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cpt.2026.04.002
Hu, R., Lan, J., Zhang, D., & Shen, W. (2024). Nanotherapeutics for prostate cancer treatment: A comprehensive review. Biomaterials, 305, 122469. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biomaterials.2024.122469
Jaiswal, V., Bisht, S., Prakash, S., Raina, D., & Singh, S. (2025). Chapter 26—Nanotherapeutics in metabolic diseases–Associated infections. In A. Kumar & P. Parashar (Eds.), Applications of Nanotherapeutics and Nanotheranostics in Managing Infectious Diseases (pp. 617–648). Academic Press. https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-443-28836-4.00026-3
Jing, H. H., Patel, M., Adnan, M., & Sasidharan, S. (2026). Light-responsive nanotherapeutic carbon dots: A next generation tool for cancer phototherapy. Journal of the National Cancer Center, 6(1), 11–29. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jncc.2025.07.004
Joghataie, P., Habibi, Z., Bahrampour, A., Danjeh, M., Molaee, P., Yousefi Chermehini, N., Forouzin, S., Zamanifard, S., & Nikdoust, F. (2026). Nickel-induced cardiotoxicity: Immunopathogenesis, thromboinflammation, and a targeted nanotherapeutic strategy. International Immunopharmacology, 170, 116091. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.intimp.2025.116091
Joshi, D. C., Joshi, N., Sethiya, N. K., & Bisht, D. (2024). Chapter 13—Nanotechnology: A nanotherapeutics approach to counteracting brain infection. In S. Beg, R. Shukla, M. Handa, M. Rahman, & A. Dhir (Eds.), Nanostructured Drug Delivery Systems in Infectious Disease Treatment (pp. 281–310). Academic Press. https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-443-13337-4.00001-X
Kang, Y., Chen, Y., Yu, L., Zhao, J., Chen, G., Mou, X., Tong, X., & Cai, Y. (2026). Advances in optical imaging and nanotherapeutic technologies for hematological malignancies: From diagnosis to precision treatment. Coordination Chemistry Reviews, 547, 217131. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ccr.2025.217131
Khan, S., Bano, N., Ahamad, S., Dar, N. J., Nazir, A., & Bhat, S. A. (2025). Advances in nanotherapeutic strategies for Huntington’s disease: Design, delivery, and neuroprotective mechanisms. Coordination Chemistry Reviews, 522, 216206. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ccr.2024.216206
Kulshrestha, R., Rani, M., JM, D., & Mishra, A. (2026). siRNA-based nanotherapeutics for malignant and non-malignant diffuse parenchymal lung diseases. Nano Biomedicine and Engineering, 18(2), 100022. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nbe.2025.100022
Kuna, K., Baddam, S. R., Kalagara, S., Akkiraju, P. C., Tade, R. S., & Enaganti, S. (2024). Emerging natural polymer-based architectured nanotherapeutics for the treatment of cancer. International Journal of Biological Macromolecules, 262, 129434. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2024.129434
Leharwani, M., Singhai, H., Hani, U., Rani, V. I., Gupta, G., Goh, K. W., Patil, U. K., & Kesharwani, P. (2026). Herbal carbon dots for wound healing: Bridging traditional phytomedicine with advanced Nanotherapeutics. Inorganic Chemistry Communications, 186, 116162. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.inoche.2026.116162
Li, X., Li, Z., Liu, J., Zang, H., Guo, S., Yang, Y., Tan, X., Liao, J., & Wang, C. (2026). Engineering stem cell-based nanotherapeutics to overcome myocardial ischemia-reperfusion injury. Biomaterials, 331, 124121. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biomaterials.2026.124121
Liu, S., Yang, Q., Liu, H., He, Z., Tang, X., Yang, Y., Lin, Y., & Luo, E. (2026). Engineering a tetrahedral framework nucleic acid-based nanomedicine for precise intracellular delivery of rapamycin to rescue senescent bone mesenchymal stem cells. Chemical Engineering Journal, 536, 175445. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cej.2026.175445
Ma, J., Zhao, C. F., & Liu, X. (2026). Advances in targeted therapeutics and smart delivery systems based on precision nano-oncology. International Immunopharmacology, 169, 115946. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.intimp.2025.115946
Mahmud, Md. M., Pandey, N., Winkles, J. A., Woodworth, G. F., & Kim, A. J. (2024). Toward the scale-up production of polymeric nanotherapeutics for cancer clinical trials. Nano Today, 56, 102314. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nantod.2024.102314
Mir, Z. M., Thakur, P., Arora, R., Kanwar, N., & Baldi, A. (2025). Chapter 16—Nanotherapeutics in COVID-19 and associated pulmonary infections. In A. Kumar & P. Parashar (Eds.), Applications of Nanotherapeutics and Nanotheranostics in Managing Infectious Diseases (pp. 371–400). Academic Press. https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-443-28836-4.00016-0
Morani, D. O., & Patil, P. O. (2024). Review on Multifunctional Nanotherapeutics for Drug Delivery, Tumor Imaging, and Selective Tumor Targeting by Hyaluronic Acid Coupled Graphene Quantum Dots. Current Nanoscience, 20(1), 89–108. https://doi.org/10.2174/1573413719666230210122445
Ren, X., & Xue, X. (2026). Mechanism-oriented nanotherapeutics for sepsis: A multitarget strategy from pathogen clearance to organ protection. Precision Medicine and Engineering, 3(2), 100068. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.preme.2026.100068
Rudrangi, S. R. S., Basavaraj, H., Pawar, A. K., Rajendran, S. P., Velaga, V. V. S. S. A. R., & Tiwari, G. (2025). Chapter 2—An overview of nanotherapeutics and nanodiagnostics. In A. Kumar & P. Parashar (Eds.), Applications of Nanotherapeutics and Nanotheranostics in Managing Infectious Diseases (pp. 19–40). Academic Press. https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-443-28836-4.00002-0
Saini, J., & Venugopal, D. (2026). Chapter 10—Nanotherapeutics option against multidrug-resistant ESKAPE pathogens. In D. Sharma & I. Singh (Eds.), Nanotherapeutics Combating Microbial Infections and Antimicrobial Resistance (pp. 209–222). Academic Press. https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-443-33070-4.00008-3
Salunkhe, D., Nangare, S., Jadhav, N., Tade, R., Desai, A., & Vihal, S. (2026). Design of albumin-based nanotherapeutics for glioblastoma management: Biological barriers, targeting strategies, and translational perspectives. International Journal of Biological Macromolecules, 360, 151872. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2026.151872
Sawan, S., Kumari, A., Majie, A., Ghosh, A., Karmakar, V., Kumari, N., Ghosh, S., & Gorain, B. (2025). siRNA-based nanotherapeutic approaches for targeted delivery in rheumatoid arthritis. Biomaterials Advances, 168, 214120. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bioadv.2024.214120
Shraogi, N., Verma, R., Saji, J., Singh, A., Kar, A. K., Singh, D., Tehlan, S., Ghosh, D., & Patnaik, S. (2026). Phyto-nanotherapeutics: An emerging frontier in advancing phytopharmaceuticals: Challenges and opportunities. Sustainable Materials and Technologies, 47, e01923. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.susmat.2026.e01923
Tiwari, V., Kulyal, H., & Tiwari, A. (2026). Frontiers in neurodegeneration: Biomolecular triggers, diagnostic biomarkers, and smart nanotherapeutics. Journal of Drug Delivery Science and Technology, 115, 107797. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jddst.2025.107797
Ultimo, A., Jain, A., Gomez-Gonzalez, E., Alex, T. S., Moreno-Borrallo, A., Jana, S., Ghosh, S., & Ruiz-Hernandez, E. (2025). Nanotherapeutic Formulations for the Delivery of Cancer Antiangiogenics. Molecular Pharmaceutics, 22(5), 2322–2349. https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.molpharmaceut.4c00822
Verma, R., Shaik, S., & Kumar, L. (2025). Chapter 13—Nanotherapeutics against drug-resistant pathogens. In A. Kumar & P. Parashar (Eds.), Applications of Nanotherapeutics and Nanotheranostics in Managing Infectious Diseases (pp. 293–306). Academic Press. https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-443-28836-4.00013-5
Wal, P., Karan, R. K., Debnath, B., Vig, H., Singh, C., Khandige, P. S., Sadananda, V., Sadananda, G., & Wal, A. (2025). Chapter 18—Nanotherapeutics in miscellaneous viral infections. In A. Kumar & P. Parashar (Eds.), Applications of Nanotherapeutics and Nanotheranostics in Managing Infectious Diseases (pp. 425–452). Academic Press. https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-443-28836-4.00018-4
Authors
Copyright (c) 2026 Adwoa Agyemang, Samuel Bediako, Kwame Mensah

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.