Brain tumors, including primary gliomas and brain metastases, are one of the deadliest tumors because effective macromolecular antitumor drugs cannot easily penetrate the blood-brain barrier (BBB) and blood-brain tumor barrier (BTB). Magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs) are considered the most suitable nanocarriers for the delivery of brain tumor drugs because of their unique properties compared to other nanoparticles. Numerous preclinical and clinical studies have demonstrated the potential of these nanoparticles in magnetic targeting, nuclear magnetic resonance, magnetic thermal therapy, and ultrasonic hyperthermia. To further develop and optimize MNPs for the diagnosis and treatment of brain tumors, we attempt to outline recent advances in the use of MNPs to deliver drugs, with a particular focus on their efficacy in the delivery of anti-brain tumor drugs based on magnetic targeting and low-intensity focused ultrasound, magnetic resonance imaging for surgical real-time guidance, and magnetothermal and ultrasonic hyperthermia therapy. Furthermore, we summarize recent findings on the clinical application of MNPs and the research limitations that need to be addressed in clinical translation.

Oral regenerative medicine is crucial for restoring damaged enamel, dentin, pulp, and periodontium, yet conventional treatments fail to replicate native tissue hierarchy and bioactivity, causing poor integration and long-term failure. Nanomaterials, with unique properties (high surface-area-to-volume ratio, tunable chemistry, and stimuli responsiveness), address these issues. This review critically assesses the paradigm of nano-enabled strategies to achieve precise spatiotemporal control over the regenerative process. We focus on nanomaterials functional mechanisms within the oral milieu, including biomimetic mineralization, targeted bioactive cargo delivery to specific dental tissues, and intelligent modulation of cellular behavior and the local microenvironment. Inorganic nanoparticles (e.g., nano-hydroxyapatite, mesoporous silica) excel in biomimetic hardening and ion delivery; Organic nanocarriers (e.g., chitosan, PLGA, liposomes) offer superior biocompatibility and controlled release profiles; and biological nanoplatforms (e.g., exosomes, protein cages) provide unparalleled biorecognition and targeting. The review also evaluates translational hurdles (batch heterogeneity, rapid oral clearance, biosafety) and forecasts convergence with AI, 4D bioprinting, and gene editing to advance dentistry from repair to personalized restoration of oral tissues.

Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is the most common type of lung cancer, with brain metastases occurring in 24% to 40% of advanced NSCLC patients and a poor prognosis. Traditional treatment methods for brain metastases, such as surgery and radiotherapy, often result in neurocognitive impairment and brain edema. Furthermore, chemotherapy drugs struggle to penetrate the central nervous system. Third-generation EGFR-TKI drugs that can cross the blood–brain barrier have demonstrated efficacy in treating NSCLC patients with brain metastases, but their benefits are limited to those with specific driver genes. Immunotherapy demonstrated potential in the treatment of NSCLC patients with brain metastases, although the adverse events limited its clinical use. Given these limitations, filamentous phages emerge as a promising bio-nanomaterial due to their unique biosafety profile, high solubility, and ability to facilitate targeted delivery, which can potentially minimize systemic toxicity. This review focuses on two core applications of filamentous phages in NSCLC and brain metastasis therapy: (i) phage display-derived targeting peptides and (ii) intact engineered filamentous phages as delivery scaffolds. As delivery systems, filamentous phages can prolong in vivo circulation time, reduce toxicity, and effectively cross the Blood–Brain Barrier (BBB)—evidences include filamentous phage mediating targeted delivery of chemotherapeutics and siRNA to NSCLC cells, and phage-nanomaterial hybrids enhancing tumor accumulation. The review also elaborates on the clinical translation potential of filamentous phages, including personalized therapy via patient-specific peptide screening, and discusses current limitations. Filamentous phage-based nanocarriers are expected to improve the quality of life of NSCLC patients with brain metastases.

Bacterial infections, especially those involving drug-resistant pathogens and biofilms, pose a severe global health threat. Conventional antibiotic therapies are limited by poor penetration, low specificity, and bacterial resistance mechanisms. Magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs) offer a promising alternative by combining magnetically guided targeting, magnetothermal/photothermal effects, multifunctional drug delivery, and imaging capabilities. Their antibacterial efficacy depends critically on the anatomical and pathological features of the infection site. For skin and superficial infections, near-infrared (NIR) light, particularly in the second biological window (NIR-II), enables synergistic photothermal/photodynamic/chemodynamic therapies. For deep soft tissue and bone infections, alternating magnetic fields (AMF) provide deep-penetrating magnetothermal activation or targeted enrichment, often combined with image-guided intervention. For cavity organ and implant-related infections, surface functionalization, local drug delivery, and endoscopic energy application allow precise interfacial intervention. This review systematically discusses MNP-based strategies tailored to different infection sites, integrating advances in material design, synergistic mechanisms, and preclinical progress. It also addresses challenges in multifunctional integration, biosafety, and clinical translation, and outlines future directions toward intelligent, theranostic, and synergistic antibacterial platforms.

Circular RNAs (circRNAs) are covalently closed single-stranded RNA molecules generated by back-splicing events of precursor mRNAs, characterized by superior structural stability, strict tissue specificity, and diverse regulatory functions. Ferroptosis is an iron-dependent, lipid peroxidation-driven regulated cell death (RCD) distinct from classical apoptosis and necrosis; remodeling of the tumor immune microenvironment (TIME) directly modulates cancer progression and therapeutic efficacy. Both are core targets in cancer biology and translational oncology. Emerging evidence shows circRNAs act as “molecular bridges” to simultaneously regulate ferroptosis and anti-tumor immunity via miRNA sponging, protein interaction/scaffolding, and de novo encoding of functional peptides. This review systematically elaborates the molecular mechanisms of circRNA-mediated ferroptosis-immunity crosstalk in cancer, where ferroptosis and anti-tumor immunity reciprocally regulate each other through inflammatory signals and immune effectors. CircRNAs act as “molecular bridges” by simultaneously targeting key nodes in both pathways via a single regulatory event, a concept defined here as “dual regulation”. we focused on three major regulatory modalities, and explores their potential as non-invasive diagnostic biomarkers and novel therapeutic targets, providing new perspectives for precision cancer therapy via dual targeting of ferroptosis and immune pathways.