Document resource
Objective To review and comment on the emerging role of nanobody-based therapeutics and nanotechnology-enabled drug delivery systems in gastroenterology.Summary Nanobody-based platforms and nanotechnology-enabled drug delivery systems represent an emerging paradigm in gastroenterology, shifting focus from systemic immunomodulation toward tissue-level precision pharmacology. Many gastrointestinal diseases, including inflammatory bowel disease, eosinophilic oesophagitis, and hepatocellular carcinoma, are anatomically localized, yet are still predominantly treated with systemic therapies associated with toxicity, immunogenicity, and incomplete tissue exposure. Nanobodies and nanoparticle-based delivery systems offer theoretical advantages including enhanced tissue penetration, modular engineering capacity, and targeted drug localization, with potential applications across numerous gastrointestinal diseases. Despite promising preclinical and early clinical data, major barriers including manufacturing complexity, heterogeneous disease biology, regulatory uncertainty, and limited human evidence currently restrict widespread clinical implementation.Conclusion Nanobody and nanotechnology-based therapeutic platforms have the potential to transform the management of gastrointestinal diseases though significant challenges including manufacturing complexity, disease heterogeneity, regulatory considerations, and limited human clinical evidence must be addressed before widespread clinical adoption can be achieved.