Nanomedicine in the Female Reproductive System and Related Disorders: a Narrative Review of Diagnostic, Therapeutic, and Translational Applications
Year: 2026
Type: review
Abstract: Background: Nanotechnology is increasingly investigated across gynecologic imaging, drug and gene delivery, contraception, fertility preservation, and tissue repair. Objective: To summarize diagnostic and therapeutic applications of nanotechnology in gynecologic cancers, endometriosis, polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), uterine leiomyoma, menopause, contraception, and infertility, and to appraise safety and barriers to clinical translation. Methods: Narrative review of English-language literature indexed through August 2026, including peer-reviewed primary studies and prior reviews. No formal systematic review, meta-analysis, or quantitative pooling was performed. Results: Liposomes, polymeric, metal and metal-oxide nanoparticles, nanomicelles, and nucleic-acid nanocarriers have shown preclinical promise for cervical and ovarian tumor imaging, image-guided endometriosis treatment, targeted leiomyoma therapy, hormone delivery, contraception, and fertility preservation. Safety concerns center on size- and composition-dependent toxicity, systemic accumulation, and placental crossing; most applications remain preclinical. Conclusion: The strongest near-term potential lies in intraoperative tumor imaging, local vaginal drug delivery, sustained hormone delivery, and endometrial repair. Adoption will require standardized characterization, reproducible manufacturing, and long-term reproductive safety data.
Institutions: Duke University, Johns Hopkins University
Language: English
Subfield: Biomaterials
Field: Materials Science
Domain: Physical Sciences
Open Access status: diamond
OpenAlex ID: W7223980218