Advanced nanomedicines to target prostate cancer cells: emerging molecular tools and future clinical prospects

Prostate cancer (PCa) has been considered the key cause of cancer deaths among men globally, especially in countries such as the Middle East and Asia. The percentage is disproportionately high in war-torn regions due to healthcare challenges. Various factors contribute to the increase in the prevalence of this tumor, including lifestyle. Although many strategies have improved efficacy in the treatment field (e.g., androgen deprivation therapy (ADT), taxanes, and radium-223), nanomedicine remains the most effective drug-based method for targeting cancer cells. Most importantly, it provides a molecularly precise platform that integrates biomarker-guided targeting and multimodal treatment. Besides, this system integrates chemotherapy, gene silencing, photothermal therapy, and radiotherapy, which are redefining treatment paradigms. This work comprehensively reviews the key design principles of nanomedicine platforms and their potential for targeted prostate cancer therapy. Surface modification strategies, including polyethylene glycol (PEG) conjugation and PSMA ligand functionalization, enhance drug uptake and improve the precision of cancer cell targeting. Therefore, integrating nanomedicine-based delivery systems represents a promising strategy to improve the accuracy and therapeutic efficacy of prostate cancer treatment. Importantly, our study proposes next-generation precision methods, including AI-guided nanoparticle engineering, digital twin-based treatment prediction, and patient-derived organoid validation, to accelerate the clinical translation of advanced nanomedicines for prostate cancer.