Published On: January 28, 2025Categories: Blog

Personalized medicine is at the forefront of modern healthcare, promising treatments tailored to the unique genetic and molecular profiles of individual patients. This revolutionary approach addresses the limitations of one-size-fits-all therapies by focusing on precision targeting, improved efficacy, and reduced side effects.

Nanotechnology plays a pivotal role in enabling personalized medicine, particularly through the use of lipid nanoparticles (LNPs) and other nanocarriers, which allow precise delivery of therapeutics to specific cells or tissues.

The importance of precision targeting 

Precision targeting is the cornerstone of personalized medicine, allowing treatments to focus on diseased cells while sparing healthy ones. Nanoparticles have emerged as ideal carriers for achieving this goal. Their small size, biocompatibility, and ability to be functionalized with targeting ligands enable them to deliver drugs, mRNA, proteins, antibodies, aptamers or gene editing tools directly to specific cells. 

For example, in oncology, nanoparticles can carry chemotherapeutic agents more specifically to tumor cells, reducing systemic toxicity. Similarly, in genetic disorders, nanoparticles can deliver nucleic acids to specific tissues to correct underlying genetic mutations, paving the way for more effective and personalized treatments. 

Several clinical studies and approved therapies demonstrate the potential of nanoparticles in personalized medicine. From mRNA-based vaccines to siRNA treatments for rare genetic disorders, nanoparticles are proving their versatility and effectiveness. 

Key advancements enabling personalized medicine

  • Targeted delivery:

Nanoparticles can be engineered to deliver drugs, genetic material, or biomolecules—such as peptides and proteins—directly to specific cell types. This precision minimizes off-target effects, reduces systemic toxicity, and ensures higher therapeutic efficacy. For example, nanoparticles can be functionalized with ligands or antibodies to bind to unique biomarkers found on cancer cells or specific tissues in genetic disorders. 

  • Improved stability:

Encapsulation of therapeutic agents, including mRNA, siRNA, proteins, or peptides, within nanoparticles protects them from enzymatic degradation and enhances their bioavailability. This stability ensures that fragile biomolecules remain intact as they navigate the complex biological environment, allowing them to reach their target in a functional state. 

  • Adaptability to novel therapeutic targets:

Advances in molecular biology are uncovering new therapeutic targets, such as specific mutations or overexpressed proteins in disease states. Nanotechnology is flexible enough to incorporate a wide range of biomolecules, including nucleic acids, peptides, and antibodies, to address these emerging targets. This adaptability makes nanoparticles invaluable for the development of next-generation therapies. 

  •  Scalability:

Unlike many traditional therapeutic platforms, nanoparticles can be manufactured consistently at scale. Advanced techniques adhering to Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP) ensure that formulations remain effective and reproducible, making them ready for widespread clinical use. This scalability is essential for therapies intended to treat large patient populations. 

  • Artificial Intelligence (AI) in design and development:

AI is becoming a key enabler of personalized medicine by accelerating the design of nanoparticle formulations. Machine learning algorithms can predict optimal nanoparticle compositions for specific drugs or patient profiles, ensuring better compatibility and performance. AI also aids in identifying patient-specific biomarkers, allowing nanoparticles to be customized for precise therapeutic outcomes. 

How DIVERSA is driving personalized medicine forward?

DIVERSA is at the forefront of personalized medicine by developing innovative nanoparticle platforms to deliver tailored solutions for complex medical challenges. Through projects like INCANTA and NocTURNA, DIVERSA is not only advancing healthcare innovation but also strengthening its position as a leader in nanotechnology for personalized medicine.

  1. INCANTA focuses on nanotechnology-driven solutions for advanced therapies, targeting diseases where precision medicine can significantly impact patient outcomes. The project in collaboration with Dr. Pedro Berraondo from CIMA and Dra. Jenifer García Fernández form IDIS aimed to develop mRNA-based therapeutics for the treatment of locally advanced cancer. This milestone represents a significant achievement for DIVERSA, highlighting our commitment to driving innovation in the healthcare sector and advancing therapies to address unmet clinical needs.
  2. NocTURNA is an ambitious project aimed at developing nanotechnology for mRNA encapsulation in vaccines against tuberculosis. This initiative leverages DIVERSA’s cutting-edge nanoparticle technology and collaborates with Prof. Paulo Bettencourt of the Universidade Católica Portuguesa, an expert in immunology and vaccinology.

Both projects are supported by specific funding mechanisms, including the PERTE for Vanguard Health, and Ministry of Science and Innovation of Spain and highlight the global recognition of DIVERSA’s leadership in nanotechnology for personalized medicine.

Supported by CDTI and the European Union’s Recovery and Resilience Mechanism (RRM), these initiatives demonstrate DIVERSA’s commitment to addressing global health challenges with cutting-edge, personalized solutions.

Conclusion

The integration of nanotechnology into personalized medicine marks a significant leap forward in healthcare. By enabling targeted and efficient delivery systems, nanoparticles are unlocking new possibilities for treating a wide range of diseases.

 

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References

  1. Mitchell, M. J., Billingsley, M. M., Haley, R. M., Wechsler, M. E., Peppas, N. A., & Langer, R. (2021). Engineering precision nanoparticles for drug delivery. Nature reviews drug discovery20(2), 101-124. 101-124. 10.1038/s41573-020-0090-8. 
  2. Xu, L., Wang, X., Liu, Y., Yang, G., Falconer, R. J., & Zhao, C. X. (2022). Lipid nanoparticles for drug delivery. Advanced NanoBiomed Research2(2), 2100109. 10.1002/anbr.202100109
  3. Mehta, M., Bui, T. A., Yang, X., Aksoy, Y., Goldys, E. M., & Deng, W. (2023). Lipid-based nanoparticles for drug/gene delivery: An overview of the production techniques and difficulties encountered in their industrial development. ACS Materials Au3(6), 600-619. 10.1021/acsmaterialsau.3c00032.
  4. Heydari, S., Masoumi, N., Esmaeeli, E., Ayyoubzadeh, S. M., Ghorbani-Bidkorpeh, F., & Ahmadi, M. (2024). Artificial intelligence in nanotechnology for treatment of diseases. Journal of Drug Targeting32(10), 1247-1266.  10.1080/1061186X.2024.2393417.