Nanomedicines based on renewable materials for sustainable drug delivery and biomedical imaging applications.
6 affiliations
- 1Pharmaceutical Sciences Laboratory, Department of Natural and Health Sciences, Faculty of Science and Engineering, Åbo Akademi University, Biocity, Tykistökatu, Turku, 6A, 20520, Finland.
- 2Laboratory of Molecular Science and Engineering, Department of Engineering and Information Technology, Faculty of Science and Engineering, Åbo Akademi University, Henrikinkatu 2, Aurum, Turku, 20500, Finland.
- 3Department of Chemistry, University of Turku, FI-20014, Turku, Finland.
- 4Pharmaceutical Sciences Laboratory, Department of Natural and Health Sciences, Faculty of Science and Engineering, Åbo Akademi University, Biocity, Tykistökatu, Turku, 6A, 20520, Finland. [email protected].
- 5Pharmaceutical Sciences Laboratory, Department of Natural and Health Sciences, Faculty of Science and Engineering, Åbo Akademi University, Biocity, Tykistökatu, Turku, 6A, 20520, Finland. [email protected].
- 6Laboratory of Molecular Science and Engineering, Department of Engineering and Information Technology, Faculty of Science and Engineering, Åbo Akademi University, Henrikinkatu 2, Aurum, Turku, 20500, Finland. [email protected].
Abstract
With the application of nanoscale materials, nanomedicine is redefining and improving the delivery of pharmaceuticals and molecular bioimaging probes, providing novel approaches to disease diagnosis, management, and treatment. As in many other fields, renewable materials are becoming increasingly important in nanomedicine because they offer sustainable alternatives to fossil-based resources and are often biodegradable and biocompatible. Additionally, these materials are replenishable in nature, and some can be derived or recovered from industrial and agro-industrial waste streams. In this review, we critically evaluate nanomedicines fabricated from renewable polymers, polysaccharides, proteins, and lipids for drug delivery and biomedical imaging, together with their physicochemical and biological characterization. Particular emphasis is placed on how material origin and physicochemical properties influence formulation performance and clinical readiness. Rather than considering renewable origin alone as an indicator of translational suitability, the major material classes are compared in terms of source consistency, biodegradability, imaging functionality, and regulatory maturity. Recent developments reported during 2020-2026 are discussed, with particular attention to the objectives and key findings of the developed nanomedicines. Additionally, their applications in the treatment of various diseases and in biomedical imaging are reviewed. The review also highlights key translational barriers, and evidence gaps that must be addressed to advance renewable material-based nanomedicines from proof-of-concept systems toward reproducible, scalable, and clinically relevant products.
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BibTeX
@article{kumar2026nanomedicines,
title = {{Nanomedicines based on renewable materials for sustainable drug delivery and biomedical imaging applications.}},
author = {Vishal Kumar and Md Maruf Uz Zaman and Carl-Eric Wilén and Jessica M Rosenholm and Kuldeep K Bansal},
journal = {Discover nano},
year = {2026},
month = oct,
doi = {10.1186/s11671-026-04996-7},
url = {https://europepmc.org/article/MED/42900417},
note = {CC BY-NC-ND},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Nanomedicines based on renewable materials for sustainable drug delivery and biomedical imaging applications.
AU - Vishal Kumar
AU - Md Maruf Uz Zaman
AU - Carl-Eric Wilén
AU - Jessica M Rosenholm
AU - Kuldeep K Bansal
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/10/20
JO - Discover nano
DO - 10.1186/s11671-026-04996-7
UR - https://europepmc.org/article/MED/42900417
AB - With the application of nanoscale materials, nanomedicine is redefining and improving the delivery of pharmaceuticals and molecular bioimaging probes, providing novel approaches to disease diagnosis, management, and treatment. As in many other fields, renewable materials are becoming increasingly important in nanomedicine because they offer sustainable alternatives to fossil-based resources and are often biodegradable and biocompatible. Additionally, these materials are replenishable in nature, and some can be derived or recovered from industrial and agro-industrial waste streams. In this review, we critically evaluate nanomedicines fabricated from renewable polymers, polysaccharides, proteins, and lipids for drug delivery and biomedical imaging, together with their physicochemical and biological characterization. Particular emphasis is placed on how material origin and physicochemical properties influence formulation performance and clinical readiness. Rather than considering renewable origin alone as an indicator of translational suitability, the major material classes are compared in terms of source consistency, biodegradability, imaging functionality, and regulatory maturity. Recent developments reported during 2020-2026 are discussed, with particular attention to the objectives and key findings of the developed nanomedicines. Additionally, their applications in the treatment of various diseases and in biomedical imaging are reviewed. The review also highlights key translational barriers, and evidence gaps that must be addressed to advance renewable material-based nanomedicines from proof-of-concept systems toward reproducible, scalable, and clinically relevant products.
SN - 2731-9229
ER -