Nanoparticles in Cancer Therapy: Recent Advances and Clinical Implications in Pulmonary Oncology

Albert Lyono (Department of Pulmonology and Respiratory Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Universitas Brawijaya, Malang, Indonesia.)
Ungky Agus Setyawan (Dr. Saiful Anwar General Hospital, Malang, Indonesia.)
Sastia Rakhma (Institute of Clinical Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, Taiwan.)

Jurnal Respirasi (JR)
Vol. 12 No. 3 (2026): September 2026

Introduction: Lung cancer remains the leading cause of cancer-related mortality worldwide and in Indonesia, with most patients presenting at advanced stages and experiencing limited survival. Conventional therapies such as surgery, chemotherapy, and radiotherapy face major limitations, including systemic toxicity, poor specificity, and treatment resistance. Nanotechnology has emerged as a transformative approach in oncology, offering novel solutions for diagnosis and therapy through nanoparticles with unique physicochemical properties. Methods: This narrative literature review synthesized evidence from the past five years using PubMed, Scopus, and Google Scholar. Articles were selected for relevance to nanoparticle applications in lung cancer. Data extraction emphasized diagnostic advances, therapeutic strategies including chemotherapy, radiotherapy, and immunotherapy, as well as emerging modalities and translational challenges. Results: Nanoparticles show strong potential to improve diagnostic accuracy and therapeutic efficacy. As imaging contrast agents in CT, MRI, and PET, nanoparticles such as gold and superparamagnetic iron oxide enhance sensitivity and specificity. In chemotherapy, delivery systems including liposomes, polymer, and lipid nanoparticles increase bioavailability while reducing toxicity. Metallic nanoparticles serve as radiosensitizers in radiotherapy, mitigating resistance and sparing normal tissues. Nanoparticles also act as carriers for checkpoint inhibitors, cytokines, and vaccines to enhance immune activation. Emerging modalities include photothermal therapy, cryosurgery, and gene or mRNA delivery. Despite these advances, challenges persist regarding toxicity, long-term biodistribution, scalability, regulatory approval, and cost-effectiveness, particularly in low–middle income countries. Conclusion: Nanoparticles represent a promising paradigm shift in pulmonary oncology, offering precision, reduced toxicity, and integration with personalized and precision medicine to improve lung cancer outcomes.