Jul 2026· Small· pp.
e74601
· 1 citation· 113 references
Medicine
TL;DR
This review comprehensively summarizes recent progress in anticancer nanovaccine research and reviews the emerging AI-enabled strategies relevant to this field, including antigen prediction, formulation and design optimization, and computational modeling of immune responses.
Abstract
Cancer vaccines are an attractive immunotherapeutic approach, and numerous clinical trials are ongoing. However, most candidates have not achieved statistically significant improvements in patient survival. To address these limitations, nanotechnology-enabled cancer nanovaccine platforms have attracted increasing attention. Relative to conventional vaccine formats, cancer nanovaccines can improve antigen delivery efficiency and promote robust antitumor immune responses. Among these approaches, cell membrane nanoparticle (CNP)-based vaccines have been widely investigated and show strong biocompatibility and immunogenicity. Notably, preservation of major histocompatibility complex (MHC)-associated peptide repertoires on CNPs can help leverage endogenous antigen presentation and may reduce reliance on in silico tumor antigen prediction alone, a longstanding bottleneck in cancer vaccine development. In parallel, artificial intelligence (AI) is driving rapid advances across biomedical engineering and is applied to cancer nanovaccine research, including antigen identification, nanoparticle design optimization, and immune response modeling. This review comprehensively summarizes recent progress in anticancer nanovaccine research, with a particular focus on the development of CNP-based cancer nanovaccines. It also reviews the emerging AI-enabled strategies relevant to this field, including antigen prediction, formulation and design optimization, and computational modeling of immune responses. Finally, an outlook on future research directions and remaining challenges in this rapidly evolving field is provided.
Although cancer vaccines have been proposed for decades, their clinical outcomes have remained largely unsatisfactory. Over the past decade, progress in deciphering the interaction between the immune system and cancer, along with widespread adoption of high-throughput sequencing technologies and improved MHC-peptide binding affinity prediction, have revitalized interest in cancer vaccine development. Nanomaterials benefit from the integration of tunable composition, modular architecture, and immunologically relevant dimensions, which collectively enable the rational design of immunomodulatory strategies tailored on demand, ensuring the reliable induction of antitumor immune responses. Given the spatiotemporal nature of immune responses, multifunctional nanomaterials can be further engineered to enable multivalent antigen presentation and controlled vaccine trafficking, thereby confining antitumor immune activation to desired contexts and minimizing off-target immune-related toxicities. Beyond conventional discussions of antigen delivery, this review emphasizes how rational nanomaterial design can be leveraged to regulate multiple stages of the cancer-immunity cycle, providing an updated perspective on the development of next-generation cancer vaccines. This Review will systematically summarize recent advances in nanomaterial-based cancer vaccines and discuss the key challenges and future directions in this rapidly evolving field.
Haixue Jia, Q. Fu, Dianyu Wang et al.· Biomaterials Science· 0 citations
Next-generation personalized cancer vaccines are advancing the transition from reactive treatment to proactive, precision-controlled cancer immunotherapy, and when integrated with artificial intelligence for antigen selection and multiomics for patient stratification, these platforms accelerate vaccine design and improve precision.
L. Ye, GuoWei Zhao, Jiaxiu Ma et al.· Signal Transduction and Targ...· 0 citations
It is proposed that the future maturation of PCVs will require a coordinated process across five interconnected dimensions: advances in neoantigen prediction technologies, rapid delivery of PCVs to patients, an increase in anticancer efficacy through combination therapy strategies, establishment of cost-effective manufacturing processes, and regulatory innovation.
Seongje Cho, Jisun Lee, Young-Min Lee et al.· Experimental and Molecular M...· 0 citations
It is suggested that the effectiveness of mRNA cancer vaccines depends not only on selecting the right antigens but also on delivery methods that modulate the immune response and reshape the tumor microenvironment.
Dianzhe Tian, Xin-Shi Li, Zuyi Yang et al.· Frontiers in Pharmacology· 0 citations
The rise of multidrug-resistant microbes, rapidly evolving viruses, and recurring pandemics underscores the urgent need for advanced vaccine technologies. Nanoparticle-based vaccines have emerged as a transformative approach capable of overcoming the major shortcomings of traditional immunization methods. Their nanoscale architecture allows precise antigen targeting, enhanced stability, and controlled release, leading to more potent and durable immune protection. These smart systems can carry multiple antigens or adjuvants, mimic natural pathogens, and efficiently activate immune cells to elicit strong humoral and cellular responses. Various nanoparticle types, lipid-based, polymeric, inorganic, and biomimetic, demonstrate broad potential against infectious, inflammatory, and neoplastic diseases in both humans and animals. However, critical barriers remain in mass production, regulatory harmonization, and long-term safety assurance. The integration of nanotechnology with artificial intelligence (AI) and bioengineering now enables rational vaccine design, predictive modeling, and personalized immunization strategies. AI-driven optimization of nanoparticle formulations and immune response prediction are accelerating translational progress. The convergence of these disciplines is shaping a new generation of vaccines that are safer, more effective, and adaptable to global health challenges, paving the way toward precision vaccination for the modern era.
Iman Morshedi, Zahra Roodaki, Pejman Gheibi et al.· Discover Nano· 0 citations
This review discusses current nanotechnology-based immunotherapies and highlights the emerging role of integrating AI in vaccine development as next-generation strategies for improving outcomes in brain cancer treatment.
Alia Syazana Mohd Roslei, H. Huri, D. A. Pratama et al.· Journal of the Egyptian Nati...· 0 citations