# Antibody‐Empowered Nanomedicine for Precise Biomedical Applications

**Authors:** Chen Chen, Xinglin Chen, Zhenhao Gao, Meng Sun, Yaozong Yu, Fang Lv, Qiujun Wang, Jinfeng Zhang

PMC · DOI: 10.1002/advs.202521428 · Advanced Science · 2026-01-12

## TL;DR

This review discusses how combining antibodies with nanomedicine improves targeting and treatment of diseases, with a focus on diagnostics, imaging, and therapy.

## Contribution

The paper systematically summarizes antibody functionalization strategies and classifications for nanomedicine, emphasizing biomedical applications and clinical challenges.

## Key findings

- Antibody-functionalized nanoparticles offer enhanced targeting and therapeutic outcomes compared to conventional nanomedicine.
- Different antibody formats, such as IgG-like antibodies and fragments, are used to tailor nanomedicine for specific biomedical applications.
- Challenges in clinical translation include optimizing antibody-nanoparticle interactions and ensuring safety and efficacy.

## Abstract

The advancement of nanotechnology has positioned nanomedicine as powerful tools for disease diagnosis and treatment. However, the clinical efficacy of conventional nanomedicine is often limited by its passive targeting strategies and limited range of therapeutic mechanisms, leading to suboptimal accumulation at diseased sites and compromised therapeutic outcomes. Fortunately, the incorporation of antibodies, with their unparalleled targeting specificity and immune‐activating capabilities, presents a pivotal strategy to overcome these hurdles of nanoparticles. This review systematically summarizes the current progress in antibody‐empowered nanomedicine. Different antibody functionalization strategies for nanoparticles, along with their respective advantages, limitations, and typical applications, are first discussed. This review then individually describes the classification of these nanomedicines based on antibody structures, such as IgG‐like antibodies, antibody fragments, and novel antibody‐nanomedicine fusion formats. Subsequently, a specific emphasis is placed on the highlight of their biomedical applications in diagnostics, bioimaging, and the treatment of various diseases. Finally, ongoing challenges and prospects in the clinical translation of antibody‐empowered nanomedicine are critically examined. This review is intended to catalyze interdisciplinary breakthroughs that propel antibody‐empowered nanomedicine as an important pillar of precision medicine.

This review explores strategies for functionalizing nanoparticles with antibodies to construct antibody‐empowered nanomedicine. It discusses the classification of these nanomedicines based on antibody structure, with a specific focus on their biomedical applications in diagnostics, bioimaging, and therapeutics for various diseases. Finally, it critically examines the ongoing challenges and future prospects for the clinical translation of this technology.

## Full-text entities

- **Genes:** IL6R (interleukin 6 receptor) [NCBI Gene 3570] {aka CD126, HIES5, IL-1Ra, IL-6R, IL-6R-1, IL-6RA}, VEGFA (vascular endothelial growth factor A) [NCBI Gene 7422] {aka L-VEGF, MVCD1, VEGF, VPF}, ACHE (acetylcholinesterase (Yt blood group)) [NCBI Gene 43] {aka ACEE, ARACHE, N-ACHE, YT}, CD274 (CD274 molecule) [NCBI Gene 29126] {aka ADMIO5, B7-H, B7H1, PD-L1, PDCD1L1, PDCD1LG1}, CRLF2 (cytokine receptor like factor 2) [NCBI Gene 64109] {aka CRL2, CRLF2Y, TSLPR}, CD3E (CD3 epsilon subunit of T-cell receptor complex) [NCBI Gene 916] {aka CD3epsilon, IMD18, T3E, TCRE}, KLRC1 (killer cell lectin like receptor C1) [NCBI Gene 3821] {aka CD159A, NKG2, NKG2A}, ITGAX (integrin subunit alpha X) [NCBI Gene 3687] {aka CD11C, SLEB6}, Gdf15 (growth differentiation factor 15) [NCBI Gene 23886] {aka MIC-1, NAG-1, SBF}, SNCA (synuclein alpha) [NCBI Gene 6622] {aka NACP, PARK1, PARK4, PD1}, CA9 (carbonic anhydrase 9) [NCBI Gene 768] {aka CAIX, MN}, CD47 (CD47 molecule) [NCBI Gene 961] {aka IAP, MER6, OA3}, HLA-G (major histocompatibility complex, class I, G) [NCBI Gene 3135] {aka MHC-G}, ABCA3 (ATP binding cassette subfamily A member 3) [NCBI Gene 21] {aka ABC-C, ABC3, EST111653, LBM180, SMDP3}, ERBB2 (erb-b2 receptor tyrosine kinase 2) [NCBI Gene 2064] {aka CD340, HER-2, HER-2/neu, HER2, MLN 19, MLN-19}, IL17F (interleukin 17F) [NCBI Gene 112744] {aka CANDF6, IL-17F, ML-1, ML1}, CD4 (CD4 molecule) [NCBI Gene 920] {aka CD4mut, IMD79, Leu-3, OKT4D, T4}, EGFR (epidermal growth factor receptor) [NCBI Gene 1956] {aka ERBB, ERBB1, ERRP, HER1, NISBD2, NNCIS}, Itgam (integrin alpha M) [NCBI Gene 16409] {aka CD11b/CD18, CR3, CR3A, Cd11b, F730045J24Rik, Ly-40}, Il13 (interleukin 13) [NCBI Gene 16163] {aka Il-13}, FCGR3A (Fc gamma receptor IIIa) [NCBI Gene 2214] {aka CD16-II, CD16A, FCG3, FCGR3, FCRIIIA, FcGRIIIA}, Il4 (interleukin 4) [NCBI Gene 16189] {aka BSF-1, Il-4}, CD38 (CD38 molecule) [NCBI Gene 952] {aka ADPRC 1, ADPRC1, cADPR1}, GRM2 (glutamate metabotropic receptor 2) [NCBI Gene 2912] {aka GLUR2, GPRC1B, MGLUR2, mGlu2}, ALB (albumin) [NCBI Gene 213] {aka FDAHT, HSA, PRO0883, PRO0903, PRO1341}, IL23R (interleukin 23 receptor) [NCBI Gene 149233] {aka PSORS7}, Il4ra (interleukin 4 receptor, alpha) [NCBI Gene 16190] {aka CD124, Il4r}, TNF (tumor necrosis factor) [NCBI Gene 7124] {aka DIF, IMD127, TNF-alpha, TNFA, TNFSF2, TNLG1F}, spc (sparse coat) [NCBI Gene 20693], PLK1 (polo like kinase 1) [NCBI Gene 5347] {aka PLK, STPK13}, TRI-AAT9-1 (tRNA-Ile (anticodon AAT) 9-1) [NCBI Gene 7202] {aka TRI, TRNAI1}, ALK (ALK receptor tyrosine kinase) [NCBI Gene 238] {aka ALK1, CD246, NBLST3}, CDH17 (cadherin 17) [NCBI Gene 1015] {aka CDH16, HPT-1, HPT1}, TNFRSF8 (TNF receptor superfamily member 8) [NCBI Gene 943] {aka CD30, D1S166E, Ki-1}, IL6 (interleukin 6) [NCBI Gene 3569] {aka BSF-2, BSF2, CDF, HGF, HSF, IFN-beta-2}, IL17A (interleukin 17A) [NCBI Gene 3605] {aka CTLA-8, CTLA8, IL-17, IL-17A, IL17, ILA17}, IL23A (interleukin 23 subunit alpha) [NCBI Gene 51561] {aka IL-23, IL-23A, IL23P19, P19, SGRF}, MSLN (mesothelin) [NCBI Gene 10232] {aka MPF, SMRP}, KDR (kinase insert domain receptor) [NCBI Gene 3791] {aka CD309, FLK1, VEGFR, VEGFR2}
- **Diseases:** solid (MESH:D018250), hypoxia (MESH:D000860), scleroderma (MESH:D012595), ulcerative colitis (MESH:D003093), blindness (MESH:D001766), Psoriasis (MESH:D011565), acute and chronic diseases (MESH:D000208), retinal detachment (MESH:D012163), psoriatic arthritis (MESH:D015535), Neurological Disorders (MESH:D009461), Ocular Disorders (MESH:D005128), cardiac (MESH:D006331), immune-mediated disease (MESH:C567355), stroke (MESH:D020521), ADCs (MESH:D009759), interstitial lung disease (MESH:D017563), IBD (MESH:D015212), CRPC (MESH:D064129), breast cancer (MESH:D001943), gastric cancer (MESH:D013274), lung injury (MESH:D055370), asthma (MESH:D001249), Dermatological Conditions (MESH:D000168), cytotoxic (MESH:D064420), ALI (MESH:D055371), fatalities (MESH:C565541), Cancer (MESH:D009369), diffuse cutaneous systemic sclerosis (MESH:D045743), gastrointestinal (MESH:D005767), infection (MESH:D007239), T-ALL (MESH:D054218), dependent (MESH:D019966), AD (MESH:D000544), atherosclerosis (MESH:D050197), scalous skin lesions (MESH:D012871), leukemic (MESH:D007938), CorNV (MESH:D016510), PD (MESH:D010300), CNV (MESH:D000092342), acute organ injuries (MESH:D001930), brain disorders (MESH:D001927), tumor metastasis (MESH:D009362), melanoma (MESH:D008545), RA (MESH:D001172), prostate cancer (MESH:D011471), Inflammation (MESH:D007249), liver, lung (MESH:D008107), trauma (MESH:D014947), neurodegenerative disorders (MESH:D019636)
- **Chemicals:** alkyne (MESH:D000480), Bevacizumab (MESH:D000068258), heparin (MESH:D006493), hydrogen (MESH:D006859), DM4 (MESH:D008453), copper (MESH:D003300), PDA (MESH:C568283), PHD (MESH:D013929), PLGA (MESH:D000077182), nivolumab (MESH:D000077594), MPDA (MESH:C056728), glutaraldehyde (MESH:D005976), biotin (MESH:D001710), Ach (MESH:D000109), lipid (MESH:D008055), cysteine (MESH:D003545), LPS (MESH:D008070), DS8201 (MESH:C000614160), MNB (MESH:C010233), TRC105 (MESH:C579557), Co2 + (MESH:D002245), T-DM1 (MESH:D000080044), imidazole (MESH:C029899), triazole (MESH:D014230), maleimide (MESH:C043592), Cor (MESH:C058120), amide (MESH:D000577), bismuth sulfide (MESH:C049897), RFL (MESH:C424423), ICG (MESH:D007208), polydiacetylene (MESH:C082361), brentuximab vedotin (MESH:D000079963), amine (MESH:D000588), V2O5 (MESH:C066075), trastuzumab (MESH:D000068878), polyhistidine (MESH:C033223), cetuximab (MESH:D000068818), carboxylic acid (MESH:D002264), azide (MESH:D001386), ranibizumab (MESH:D000069579), His (MESH:D006639), Thiol (MESH:D013438), MOF (MESH:D000073396), Cy5.5 (MESH:C098793), polyester (MESH:D011091), exatecan (MESH:C095887), disulfide (MESH:D004220), RRx-001 (MESH:C577469), patritumab (MESH:C585471), PBD (MESH:C438462), EDC-NHS (MESH:C000625275), silica (MESH:D012822), DOX (MESH:D004317), Gold (MESH:D006046), GMBS (MESH:C032138), DHA (MESH:C039060), SPDP (MESH:C018151), metal (MESH:D008670), Si (MESH:D012825), CuAAC (-)
- **Species:** Human immunodeficiency virus 1 (no rank) [taxon 11676], Bacteriophage sp. (species) [taxon 38018], Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (no rank) [taxon 2697049], Homo sapiens (human, species) [taxon 9606], Mus musculus (house mouse, species) [taxon 10090], Norovirus (genus) [taxon 142786]
- **Mutations:** A-U105
- **Cell lines:** type II — Canis lupus familiaris (Dog), Spontaneously immortalized cell line (CVCL_0424), B16F10 — Mus musculus (Mouse), Mouse melanoma, Cancer cell line (CVCL_0159), ACE-II — Canis lupus familiaris (Dog), Canine prostate carcinoma, Cancer cell line (CVCL_L310), HEK-293 — Homo sapiens (Human), Transformed cell line (CVCL_0045), SK-BR-3 — Homo sapiens (Human), Breast adenocarcinoma, Cancer cell line (CVCL_0033)

## Full text

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## Figures

14 figures with captions in the complete paper: https://tomesphere.com/paper/PMC12915164/full.md

## References

217 references — full list in the complete paper: https://tomesphere.com/paper/PMC12915164/full.md

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Source: https://tomesphere.com/paper/PMC12915164