A Review: Personalized Nano Medicine

Abstract

Personalized nanomedicine represents a revolutionary convergence of nanotechnology, biomedicine, and data science to deliver tailored therapeutic and diagnostic solutions for individual patients. Unlike traditional medicine, which often employs generalized treatment protocols, personalized nanomedicine leverages advances in genomics, proteomics, and metabolomics to design nanoscale systems that dynamically adapt to a patient’s unique biological profile. By integrating smart nanomaterials—such as polymeric nanoparticles, lipid-based carriers, and inorganic nanostructures—with real-time biomarker detection and AI-driven predictive modeling, this approach enables precision targeting, enhanced drug bioavailability, and minimized off-target effects. Recent breakthroughs include stimuli-responsive nanocarriers that release drugs in response to tumor-specific signals (e.g., pH, enzymes, or redox gradients), theranostic nanoparticles that combine imaging and therapy for real-time treatment monitoring, and CRISPR-loaded nanovehicles for personalized gene editing. Additionally, AI and machine learning are transforming nanomedicine by optimizing nanoparticle design, predicting patient responses, and accelerating drug discovery. Despite these advancements, key challenges persist, including long-term biocompatibility, large-scale manufacturing reproducibility, regulatory complexities, and cost-effectiveness in clinical deployment. Future directions focus on multi-modal nanosystems (e.g., combined chemo-immunotherapy), implantable nanodevices for continuous health monitoring, and patient-specific nanovaccines for cancer and infectious diseases. This review provides a comprehensive analysis of the current state of personalized nanomedicine, highlighting its transformative potential in oncology, neurodegenerative disorders, and infectious disease management, while critically examining the hurdles that must be overcome for widespread clinical adoption.

Introduction

Traditional medicine often uses a "one-size-fits-all" approach, leading to inconsistent treatment outcomes due to individual variability. Personalized nanomedicine aims to address this by tailoring therapies to a patient’s genetic, molecular, and physiological characteristics, using nanotechnology, biomarkers, and AI.

2. Key Components

• Nanocarriers:

  • Lipid-based (e.g., liposomes): biocompatible, control drug release.

  • Polymeric nanoparticles (e.g., PLGA): biodegradable, functionalizable.

  • Inorganic nanoparticles (e.g., gold, iron oxide): useful in imaging and hyperthermia.

• Theranostic nanoparticles: Combine diagnostics and therapeutics for real-time monitoring.

• Biomarker-driven targeting: Tailored to patient-specific molecular profiles (e.g., HER2, EGFR).

• Emerging tools:

  • Exosomes for natural delivery.

  • CRISPR-Cas9-loaded nanocarriers for gene editing.

  • AI for optimizing design and predicting responses.

3. Technological Innovations

• AI and Machine Learning:

  • Optimize nanoparticle design.

  • Predict biodistribution and treatment outcomes.

• 3D Printing: Fabricates patient-specific drug delivery systems.

• CRISPR-loaded NPs: Enable personalized gene therapy for genetic disorders.

• Nanosensors: Monitor biomarkers and trigger drug release in real time.

• Theranostic tools: Allow combined treatment and imaging, enhancing precision.

4. Clinical Applications

• Oncology:

  • Approved drugs: Liposomal doxorubicin (Doxil®), Abraxane®.

  • Targeted and immune-enhancing nanoparticles are in development.

• Neurology:

  • BBB-penetrating NPs for Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s.

  • siRNA-based therapies for Huntington’s.

• Infectious Diseases:

  • LNPs used in mRNA vaccines (e.g., COVID-19).

  • Personalized nanovaccines for HIV and other infections.

  • Antimicrobial NP coatings for drug-resistant bacteria.

5. Key Challenges

• Biocompatibility and Toxicity:

  • Long-term effects of NP accumulation remain unclear.

• Manufacturing and Reproducibility:

  • Consistency and scalability are difficult to achieve.

• Regulatory Hurdles:

  • Lack of standardization complicates approval.

  • Personalized nature challenges clinical trial design.

• Cost and Accessibility:

  • High development costs hinder affordability.

• Patient Heterogeneity:

  • Biomarker limitations and variable immune responses affect efficacy.

6. Future Perspectives

• Closed-loop nanosystems: Real-time biosensing with feedback-controlled therapy.

• AI-driven design: Speeds up development of patient-specific formulations.

• Immunotherapy convergence: Personalized nanovaccines using patient neoantigens.

• 3D bioprinting: Enables on-demand creation of custom treatments.

• Collaborative innovation: Needed among researchers, industry, and regulators for global adoption.

Conclusion

Personalized nanomedicine stands at the forefront of a healthcare revolution, offering unprecedented opportunities to tailor diagnostics and therapeutics to individual patient needs. By harnessing the unique properties of nanoscale materials—such as enhanced targeting, controlled drug release, and multifunctional theranostic capabilities—this field bridges the gap between precision medicine and advanced drug delivery. Innovations like stimuli-responsive nanoparticles, CRISPR-based gene-editing nanocarriers, and AI-optimized treatment regimens demonstrate the transformative potential of this approach, particularly in complex diseases such as cancer, neurodegenerative disorders, and antibiotic-resistant infections. However, the path to widespread clinical adoption is not without challenges. Ensuring long-term biocompatibility, achieving scalable and reproducible manufacturing, navigating regulatory frameworks, and maintaining cost-effectiveness remain critical hurdles. Future advancements will likely focus on integrating multi-modal nanosystems for combination therapies, developing implantable nanodevices for real-time health monitoring, and refining patient-specific nanovaccines. Collaborative efforts among researchers, clinicians, regulatory bodies, and industry stakeholders will be essential to overcome these barriers and fully realize the promise of personalized nanomedicine. As the field evolves, it holds the potential to redefine treatment paradigms, shifting from reactive medicine to proactive, predictive, and precisely tailored healthcare solutions

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Copyright

Copyright © 2025 Mr. Mangesh Nalwade, Ms. Rekha Kolpe, Mr. Nitin Gawai. This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.