International Journal of Nanomedicine

Engineered Systems for Targeted Drug Delivery and Theranostics

The field of nanomedicine has transformed how therapeutic and diagnostic agents are designed, delivered, and monitored within the body. Engineered nanocarriers—including polymeric and lipid nanoparticles, extracellular vesicles and synthetic vesicles, and nanogel-based systems—now offer precise control over drug solubility, biodistribution, and release kinetics. These systems are increasingly leveraged not only for delivering small molecules and biologics but also for integrating imaging and therapeutic functions within a single construct, a paradigm known as theranostics. Meanwhile, biomimetic strategies inspired by cell membranes, extracellular vesicles, and endogenous transport pathways are expanding the toolbox for tumor homing, immune evasion, and biological barrier crossing. This Article Collection invites contributions that explore how nanoparticles, vesicles, and gels are being engineered to achieve targeted drug delivery, disease diagnosis, and real-time therapeutic monitoring.

Despite decades of laboratory progress, the clinical translation of nanomedicine remains uneven. Many promising carriers fail to overcome physiological barriers such as the blood–brain barrier, the dense stroma of solid tumors, or rapid clearance by the mononuclear phagocyte system. In parallel, diagnostics and therapeutics are still frequently developed in isolation, delaying the emergence of integrated theranostic workflows that could guide treatment decisions at the point of care. A focused Collection on engineered nanocarriers can address these bottlenecks by consolidating advances in carrier design, targeting ligand selection, stimuli-responsive release, and nano–bio interaction assessment. By bringing together researchers working across nanoparticles, vesicles, and gel systems, this Collection aims to accelerate the rational design of delivery platforms that are not only effective in preclinical models but also scalable, reproducible, and regulatory-ready. The ultimate goal is to move nanomedicine closer to routine clinical use in targeted therapy and precision diagnosis.

This Collection welcomes original research and review that fit the journal’s scope of advancing nanotechnology for diagnosis, prevention, and treatment of disease. Subtopics include, but are not limited to: lipid and polymeric nanoparticle systems for targeted drug and nucleic acid delivery; extracellular vesicle-inspired and synthetic vesicle platforms; nanogel and hydrogel-based depots for localized or stimuli-responsive release; active targeting strategies using antibodies, peptides, aptamers, or small-molecule ligands; theranostic nanocarriers that combine therapeutic payloads with imaging or sensing modalities; and studies addressing protein corona, immune interactions, biodistribution, and translational barriers. Contributions linking nanocarrier design to specific disease contexts—oncology, inflammatory disorders, neurological disease, and infectious disease—are particularly encouraged.

Preferred article types: Original Research, Reviews.

Please contact Haoyang Yi (Commissioning Editor) at Haoyang.yi@taylorandfrancis.com with any queries and discount codes regarding this Article Collection.

Guest Advisors

Prof. Shuai Ren

Dr. Shuai Ren is a radiologist at the Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, China, where he also serves as a research associate and physician. His research interests focus on the development and clinical translation of radiomics and artificial intelligence-based imaging approaches using CT, MRI, and PET/CT. He is also actively engaged in tumor nanomedicine and translational research, with a particular interest in integrating molecular imaging with engineered nanoplatforms to characterize tumor phenotypes and develop novel strategies for tumor diagnosis and therapy. His work aims to bridge molecular imaging, nanomedicine, and computational imaging technologies to facilitate the translation of emerging approaches from preclinical research toward clinical applications in oncology. Dr. Ren currently serves as Editor-in-Chief of Molecular Imaging and holds editorial positions for several international journals in medical imaging, oncology, and translational medicine, including Associate Editor roles for Academic Radiology and Cancer Control. He also serves on the Editorial Boards of npj Digital Medicine, BMC Medicine, and the International Journal of Nanomedicine. His research and editorial activities reflect his interests in advancing molecular imaging, nanomedicine, and artificial intelligence-based imaging technologies for precision oncology and translational cancer research.

Prof. Chong Qiu

Professor Qiu is a Professor at the Artemisinin Research Center, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences. His research focuses on efficient delivery systems for nucleic acid drugs—particularly overcoming lysosomal degradation—and nano delivery systems for active molecules in traditional Chinese medicine. Research Interests: Nano delivery systems for nucleic acid drugs and active molecules from traditional Chinese medicine; nanocarriers, functional biomaterials, vesicles, and hydrogels for drug delivery.

Prof. Qiang Feng

Dr. Feng is an Assistant Professor (Research-Track) at UT Southwestern Medical Center. His research focuses on uncovering tumor-targeting mechanisms and engineering immunotherapies with broad therapeutic windows. Research Interests: Tumor targeting, acidity-targeted nanocarriers, tumor-activatable immunotherapies, cytokine therapy, nanomedicine for cancer diagnosis and treatment.