Researchers have identified over 4,000 nanomedical clinical trials in progress now, highlighting rapid growth in the field and the need for a standardized lexicon to support clinical translation and collaboration.
Nanotechnology is the science of materials at the nanoscale, where matter behaves differently than it does at larger scales. The unique properties at this size have enabled the development of advanced tools for drug delivery, diagnostics, and therapeutics, tools that can significantly improve how diseases are detected and treated.
When applied to healthcare, nanotechnology has the potential to enhance treatment precision, reduce side effects, and increase therapeutic efficacy. With the help of specialized nanocarriers like liposomes, polymeric nanoparticles, or metallic nanoparticles, clinicians are better equipped to target specific tissues or cells.
However, for researchers to work collaboratively and for findings to be translatable across the globe, a standardized way to understand and unpick scientific work in nanomedicine is required. A recent review published in Nano Today hopes to kickstart a lexicon to do just that.
The Landscape of Nanomedical Trials
To assess the clinical integration of nanotechnology, the researchers analyzed over 500,000 studies from the Aggregate Analysis of ClinicalTrials.gov (AACT) database. Using a novel lexicon built with expert input and generative AI, they picked out 4,114 nanomedical trials spanning various conditions and therapeutic approaches.
Their standardizing lexicon was developed in multiple stages. Experts first created a foundation of terminology, which was expanded using AI-based tools and refined through iterative review. Researchers then used PostgreSQL and Python to extract data on each trial’s registration year, phase, intervention type, and associated medical condition.
This methodology enabled the team to classify a complex and evolving clinical landscape, offering insights into how and where nanotechnology is being applied across medicine.
Trends, Growth, and Ongoing Challenges
The analysis revealed a 38 % increase in nanomedical clinical trials in recent years, reflecting growing interest and investment in this space. Oncology remains the dominant focus, accounting for nearly a third of the trials. However, applications are broadening, with notable activity in infectious diseases, respiratory conditions, and neurological disorders.
There is also increasing diversification in the types of nanocarriers being explored, as researchers seek to improve drug delivery strategies and therapeutic outcomes. But despite this momentum, nanomedical trials still make up less than 1 % of all registered studies.
The field faces several challenges that may explain this discrepancy. Regulatory frameworks for nanomedicine are still maturing, production costs remain high, and designing clinical trials for such complex technologies can be difficult.
One of the study’s key recommendations is the adoption of a universally accepted nanomedical lexicon. Standardized terminology would improve data harmonization and facilitate interdisciplinary collaboration, as well as help streamline regulatory processes. These steps are critical if science is to bring nanomedicine into broader clinical use.
The majority of the trials identified in the review are still in early phases, indicating that much of the field remains in exploratory or proof-of-concept stages. Advancing more studies to late-phase trials will be essential to demonstrating long-term safety and efficacy.
Clinical Potential and Real-World Impact
The study reinforces nanomedicine’s practical value in areas such as targeted cancer treatment, vaccine development, and advanced diagnostics. The response to COVID-19 highlighted the adaptability of nanomedical platforms, with 505 trials focused on mRNA vaccine technologies. This suggests an expanding scope that now includes respiratory infections, HIV, and other pressing global health concerns.
Integrating AI into lexicon development may help to enhance the accuracy of trial classification and support clearer communication among researchers, clinicians, and regulatory agencies. As more multifunctional nanomedicines, such as theranostic agents that combine therapy and diagnostics, enter development, the potential for personalized treatment and real-time monitoring continues to grow.
Looking Ahead: Collaboration and Standardization
The review emphasizes the need for continued interdisciplinary collaboration for nanomedicine to flourish to its full potential. Establishing consistent terminology is not a technical exercise—it lays the foundation for improved communication, regulatory alignment, and clinical adoption.
Another key step is to address existing barriers like high production costs and trial design complexity. Future work in nanomedicine will focus on developing new tools, including integrating advanced machine learning techniques, to accelerate product development and optimization. Efforts are also being made to design multifunctional nanomedicines capable of adapting to individual patient needs and providing real-time therapeutic feedback.
As the field evolves, coordinated efforts between scientists, healthcare professionals, and regulatory bodies are essential for ensuring nanotechnology meaningfully enhances patient care.
Journal Reference
Gultepe, E., & et al. (2025). The landscape of nanomedical clinical trials. nanotoday, 66(102898). DOI: 10.1016/j.nantod.2025.102898, https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1748013225002701
News
Scientists Unlock a New Way to Hear the Brain’s Hidden Language
Scientists can finally hear the brain’s quietest messages—unlocking the hidden code behind how neurons think, decide, and remember. Scientists have created a new protein that can capture the incoming chemical signals received by brain [...]
Does being infected or vaccinated first influence COVID-19 immunity?
A new study analyzing the immune response to COVID-19 in a Catalan cohort of health workers sheds light on an important question: does it matter whether a person was first infected or first vaccinated? [...]
We May Never Know if AI Is Conscious, Says Cambridge Philosopher
As claims about conscious AI grow louder, a Cambridge philosopher argues that we lack the evidence to know whether machines can truly be conscious, let alone morally significant. A philosopher at the University of [...]
AI Helped Scientists Stop a Virus With One Tiny Change
Using AI, researchers identified one tiny molecular interaction that viruses need to infect cells. Disrupting it stopped the virus before infection could begin. Washington State University scientists have uncovered a method to interfere with a key [...]
Deadly Hospital Fungus May Finally Have a Weakness
A deadly, drug-resistant hospital fungus may finally have a weakness—and scientists think they’ve found it. Researchers have identified a genetic process that could open the door to new treatments for a dangerous fungal infection [...]
Fever-Proof Bird Flu Variant Could Fuel the Next Pandemic
Bird flu viruses present a significant risk to humans because they can continue replicating at temperatures higher than a typical fever. Fever is one of the body’s main tools for slowing or stopping viral [...]
What could the future of nanoscience look like?
Society has a lot to thank for nanoscience. From improved health monitoring to reducing the size of electronics, scientists’ ability to delve deeper and better understand chemistry at the nanoscale has opened up numerous [...]
Scientists Melt Cancer’s Hidden “Power Hubs” and Stop Tumor Growth
Researchers discovered that in a rare kidney cancer, RNA builds droplet-like hubs that act as growth control centers inside tumor cells. By engineering a molecular switch to dissolve these hubs, they were able to halt cancer [...]
Platelet-inspired nanoparticles could improve treatment of inflammatory diseases
Scientists have developed platelet-inspired nanoparticles that deliver anti-inflammatory drugs directly to brain-computer interface implants, doubling their effectiveness. Scientists have found a way to improve the performance of brain-computer interface (BCI) electrodes by delivering anti-inflammatory drugs directly [...]
After 150 years, a new chapter in cancer therapy is finally beginning
For decades, researchers have been looking for ways to destroy cancer cells in a targeted manner without further weakening the body. But for many patients whose immune system is severely impaired by chemotherapy or radiation, [...]
Older chemical libraries show promise for fighting resistant strains of COVID-19 virus
SARS‑CoV‑2, the virus that causes COVID-19, continues to mutate, with some newer strains becoming less responsive to current antiviral treatments like Paxlovid. Now, University of California San Diego scientists and an international team of [...]
Lower doses of immunotherapy for skin cancer give better results, study suggests
According to a new study, lower doses of approved immunotherapy for malignant melanoma can give better results against tumors, while reducing side effects. This is reported by researchers at Karolinska Institutet in the Journal of the National [...]
Researchers highlight five pathways through which microplastics can harm the brain
Microplastics could be fueling neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer's and Parkinson's, with a new study highlighting five ways microplastics can trigger inflammation and damage in the brain. More than 57 million people live with dementia, [...]
Tiny Metal Nanodots Obliterate Cancer Cells While Largely Sparing Healthy Tissue
Scientists have developed tiny metal-oxide particles that push cancer cells past their stress limits while sparing healthy tissue. An international team led by RMIT University has developed tiny particles called nanodots, crafted from a metallic compound, [...]
Gold Nanoclusters Could Supercharge Quantum Computers
Researchers found that gold “super atoms” can behave like the atoms in top-tier quantum systems—only far easier to scale. These tiny clusters can be customized at the molecular level, offering a powerful, tunable foundation [...]
A single shot of HPV vaccine may be enough to fight cervical cancer, study finds
WASHINGTON -- A single HPV vaccination appears just as effective as two doses at preventing the viral infection that causes cervical cancer, researchers reported Wednesday. HPV, or human papillomavirus, is very common and spread [...]
