Sustainable nanosystems for targeted drug delivery and their impacts on combination therapies and personalized medicine: Advancements and perspectives

Abstract

Recent advances in sustainable nanosystems for targeted drug delivery have emphasized biodegradable and biocompatible nanocarriers synthesized through eco-friendly methods to enable precise, controlled, and stimuli-responsive drug release with minimal environmental impact. This review focuses on green-synthesized and sustainable nanocarriers, highlighting emerging strategies that prioritize environmentally responsible design. Eco-friendly fabrication techniques, including microfluidics, solvent-free processes, supercritical fluid methods, and ionic gelation, are discussed for their potential to reduce resource use and environmental burden. Moreover, biomimetic approaches such as cell membrane-coated nanoparticles, virus-like particles, peptide-based nanostructures, and DNA/RNA carriers are examined for their enhanced targeting efficiency and biological compatibility. Besides, the use of waste-derived materials as renewable resources is also explored, reflecting the growing influence of circular economy principles in pharmaceutical nanotechnology. Furthermore, key applications in cancer, infectious diseases, and neurological disorders are summarized, with emphasis on stimuli-responsive platforms that support precision therapy. The novelty of this review lies in its integrated perspective that unifies green synthesis, circular-economy materials, and biomimetic engineering to present a comprehensive roadmap for next-generation sustainable drug delivery. We have also discussed challenges such as material variability, reproducibility, safety concerns, and scale-up issues, while also providing insights into future directions focused on renewable materials, sustainable manufacturing strategies, and smart multifunctional nanosystems.