Cancer is a group of disorders characterized by uncontrolled cell growth that affects around 11 million people each year globally. Nanocarrier-based systems are extensively used in cancer imaging, diagnostics as well as therapeutics; owing to their promising features and potential to augment therapeutic efficacy. The focal point of research remains to develop new-fangled smart nanocarriers that can selectively respond to cancer-specific conditions and deliver medications to target cells efficiently. Nanocarriers deliver loaded therapeutic cargos to the tumour site either in a passive or active mode, with the least drug elimination from the drug delivery systems. This review chiefly focuses on current advances allied to smart nanocarriers such as dendrimers, liposomes, mesoporous silica nanoparticles, quantum dots, micelles, superparamagnetic iron-oxide nanoparticles, gold nanoparticles and carbon nanotubes, to list a few. Exhaustive discussion on crucial topics like drug targeting, surface decorated smart-nanocarriers and stimuli-responsive cancer nanotherapeutics responding to temperature, enzyme, pH and redox stimuli have been covered.

Purpose of Review Skin regeneration and repair remain major challenges in clinical practice, particularly in the management of chronic wounds, burns, scars, photoaging, and other dermatological conditions. Stem cell-based therapies have emerged as regenerative strategies owing to their ability to self-renew, differentiate into multiple cell lineages, modulate immune responses, and promote tissue repair through paracrine signalling. This review aims to provide a comprehensive overview of current stem cell-based strategies for skin regeneration and repair by summarizing the biological characteristics, mechanisms of action, and therapeutic applications of different stem cell types, along with evidence from preclinical and clinical studies. Recent Findings Recent advances have demonstrated the regenerative potential of mesenchymal stem cells, adipose-derived stem cells, epidermal stem cells, hair follicle stem cells, induced pluripotent stem cells, stem cell-derived extracellular vesicles, and stem cell-conditioned media. Preclinical evidence indicates enhanced angiogenesis, extracellular matrix remodelling, collagen deposition, immunomodulation, and re-epithelialization, resulting in accelerated wound healing and skin regeneration. Early clinical studies have reported encouraging outcomes in the management of diabetic ulcers, burns, alopecia, photoaging, epidermolysis bullosa, and other chronic skin conditions. Moreover, advances in biomaterials, hydrogels, three-dimensional bioprinting, and tissue engineering have enhanced the therapeutic potential and translational feasibility of stem cell-based regenerative therapies. Summary Current evidence suggests that stem cell-based therapies represent a promising strategy for skin tissue regeneration and repair, owing to their regenerative, anti-inflammatory, pro-angiogenic, and immunomodulatory effects. Despite success in preclinical and early clinical studies, several obstacles, including difficulties in standardising stem cell sources, manufacturing scalability, long-term safety, ethical considerations, and regulatory approval, continue to limit widespread clinical application. Future research should focus on conducting well-designed multicentre clinical trials, developing standardized therapeutic protocols, and integrating innovative approaches in biomaterials and tissue engineering. Graphical Abstract