Biofunctionalisation of Nanoparticles: Emerging Strategies and Future Prospects for Biomedical Applications

Abstract

Nanotechnology has emerged as a transformative approach in modern medicine, offering powerful strategies for early disease detection and the development of safer, more precise, and cost-effective personalized therapies. Engineered nanoparticles, designed through controlled manipulation of size, shape, and surface chemistry, serve as highly efficient drug carriers that can improve therapeutic outcomes while minimising systemic toxicity. Surface biofunctionalization plays a pivotal role by enhancing nanoparticle stability, biocompatibility, and selective targeting. Functional ligands such as aptamers, peptides, and antibodies enable molecular recognition, facilitating accurate drug delivery and advanced diagnostic applications. Aptamers provide flexible, high-affinity targeting capabilities, whereas antibodies ensure specificity toward defined biomarkers. Despite existing challenges in clinical translation, biofunctionalized nanoparticles demonstrate significant promise in targeted drug delivery, diagnostic imaging, and theranostic systems. Antibody-conjugated nanoparticles have notably advanced diagnostics and treatment strategies for cancer, neurological disorders, and precision medicine. Similarly, transferrin-modified nanocarriers enable selective cellular uptake. Recent developments integrate therapeutic and imaging functionalities within unified nanoplatforms, allowing simultaneous drug delivery and real-time in vivo monitoring. This review highlights advances in surface engineering and biofunctionalization techniques, providing a comprehensive framework for designing multifunctional nanomaterials that synergistically combine diagnostic and therapeutic capabilities for next-generation biomedical applications.