Editorial: Advances in Nanomedicine: Revolutionizing Healthcare with Nanoscale Innovations

Kexiao Yu^*

• Department of Orthopedics, Chongqing Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chongqing, China

not only highlight the enhanced capabilities of nanotechnology in diagnosis and therapy but also profoundly illustrate its potential to drive the development of theranostics and precision medicine.A central theme emerging from this topic is the exploitation of the inherent biological functions of nanomaterials to transcend their traditional role as mere drug delivery vehicles. A prime example is the iron-capsaicin nanozyme developed by Wang et al.Their work moves beyond the conventional delivery of anti-inflammatory drugs; instead, the nanozyme itself, leveraging its enzyme-mimicking properties, actively remodels the inflammatory microenvironment in sepsis-induced acute lung injury by regulating macrophage polarization and scavenging reactive oxygen species. This strategy of "active regulation" over "passive transport" marks a significant evolution in the design philosophy of nanomedicines. and their role in image-guided therapy. From superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles to quantum dots, the article details how various nano-contrast agents improve diagnostic accuracy by enhancing imaging contrast and serve as multifunctional platforms integrating targeted drug delivery, hyperthermia, radiation therapy, and immunotherapy. This review makes it abundantly clear that nanotechnology is the core engine propelling modern medicine toward an era of visualizable, quantifiable, and regulatable theranostics.Collectively, the contributions in this topic demonstrate that nanomedicine is transitioning from a simple "carrier" role into an "intelligent system" capable of sensing, responding to, and regulating complex pathological microenvironments. These studies collectively point toward a future where medical interventions will become more precise, personalized, and controllable, with minimized side effects. Nevertheless, the path to widespread clinical translation faces shared challenges, including long-term biocompatibility assessment, standardization for large-scale manufacturing, and regulatory pathways. We are confident that through sustained and close collaboration between materials scientists, engineers, and clinicians, these hurdles will be overcome.The innovative work presented in this topic represents a solid step toward this promising future, not only reflecting the cutting edge of current research but also inspiring new ideas to continue driving the nanomedicine revolution forward.