Stimuli-responsive nanomaterials for targeted drug delivery in inflammatory bowel disease: Advances and emerging directions

Abstract

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is a chronic and increasingly prevalent gastrointestinal disorder that remains difficult to treat due to the limited efficacy of conventional therapies, often compromised by premature drug release and systemic side effects. Stimuli-responsive nanomaterials have emerged as a promising solution, enabling targeted and controlled drug delivery at inflamed sites to enhance therapeutic outcomes and reduce toxicity. This review systematically examines the recent development and application of these smart nanomaterial drug-delivery systems for IBD therapy over the past years. By responding to the unique pathological features of the IBD microenvironment, these systems enable improved drug targeting and site-specific release. Despite significant progress, challenges such as scalable manufacturing, long-term safety, and clinical translation remain. Future research may focus on reducing batch-to-batch variation, conducting comprehensive safety assessments, and integrating personalized medicine approaches to fully harness the potential of stimuli-responsive nanomaterials in IBD treatment.