Antibody-Empowered Nanomedicine for Precise Biomedical Applications

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.