Despite all the advances seen in recent years, the severe adverse effects and low specificity of conventional chemotherapy are still challenging problems regarding cancer treatment. Nanotechnology has helped to address these questions, making important contributions in the oncological field. The use of nanoparticles has allowed the improvement of the therapeutic index of several conventional drugs and facilitates the tumoral accumulation and intracellular delivery of complex biomolecules, such as genetic material. Among the wide range of nanotechnology-based drug delivery systems (nanoDDS), solid lipid nanoparticles (SLNs) have emerged as promising systems for delivering different types of cargo. Their solid lipid core, at room and body temperature, provides SLNs with higher stability than other formulations. Moreover, SLNs offer other important features, namely the possibility to perform active targeting, sustained and controlled release, and multifunctional therapy. Furthermore, with the possibility to use biocompatible and physiologic materials and easy scale-up and low-cost production methods, SLNs meet the principal requirements of an ideal nanoDDS. The present work aims to summarize the main aspects related to SLNs, including composition, production methods, and administration routes, as well as to show the most recent studies about the use of SLNs for cancer treatment.

Kirsten rat sarcoma (KRAS) is a small GTPase which acts as a molecular switch to regulate several cell biological processes including cell survival, proliferation, and differentiation. Alterations in KRAS have been found in 25% of all human cancers, with pancreatic cancer (90%), colorectal cancer (45%), and lung cancer (35%) being the types of cancer with the highest mutation rates. KRAS oncogenic mutations are not only responsible for malignant cell transformation and tumor development but also related to poor prognosis, low survival rate, and resistance to chemotherapy. Although different strategies have been developed to specifically target this oncoprotein over the last few decades, almost all of them have failed, relying on the current therapeutic solutions to target proteins involved in the KRAS pathway using chemical or gene therapy. Nanomedicine can certainly bring a solution for the lack of specificity and effectiveness of anti-KRAS therapy. Therefore, nanoparticles of different natures are being developed to improve the therapeutic index of drugs, genetic material, and/or biomolecules and to allow their delivery specifically into the cells of interest. The present work aims to summarize the most recent advances related to the use of nanotechnology for the development of new therapeutic strategies against KRAS-mutated cancers.

Despite remarkable advances in nanomedicine, localized delivery of advanced cancer therapeutics remains underexploited. Advanced therapies based on biopharmaceuticals, immunotherapy, or gene therapy have revolutionized oncology. Yet, their systemic administration is often associated with limitations such as poor site-specific accumulation, instability, and systemic toxicity. Hydrogels/macrogels offer the ability to encapsulate, protect, and release biomolecules in situ with sustained and stimulus-responsive profiles, addressing key translational gaps. This review provides a focused synthesis of the last five years of hydrogel-based research for cancer therapy, with emphasis on peptides, antibodies, immunotherapeutic agents, and gene delivery systems. We discuss design principles, release mechanisms, and clinical translation challenges, highlighting structure–function relationships and comparative performance across therapeutic classes. By integrating mechanistic insights with recent breakthroughs, we outline how next-generation hydrogels can synergize with personalized medicine and combination therapies to redefine localized cancer treatment. This work explores the fundamental aspects and provides examples of hydrogel-based delivery for the advanced treatment of cancer. The review summarizes the dynamic landscape of hydrogel research of the last 5 years, showcasing their potential systems for the precise delivery of biomolecules. Specifically, we explore the multidimensional role of hydrogels in the sustained and localized release of antibodies, immunotherapeutic agents, and genes as next-generation platforms for localized cancer treatment. This review aims to critically evaluate the mechanisms and applications of these systems in order to assess their potential to transform medical interventions and advance patient care.