Introduction: Cancer is a highly complex disease driven by genetic and molecular alterations, often accompanied by treatment resistance and recurrence. Traditional therapies, while effective in some cases, fail to provide durable outcomes and significantly compromise patients’ quality of life.
CRISPR-Cas9 has revolutionized medical genetics by enabling precise and efficient genome editing. It allows for silencing oncogenes, restoring tumor suppressor genes, or modulating drug-resistance pathways. However, the clinical use of CRISPR faces a critical obstacle: safe and targeted delivery to tumor cells. Nanobiotechnology offers promising solutions by designing smart nanocarriers capable of protecting CRISPR components and guiding them specifically to cancer tissues.
The integration of these two technologies represents a novel paradigm in personalized medicine, in which treatment strategies are tailored to the genetic and molecular profile of each patient, thereby improving therapeutic outcomes while minimizing adverse effects.
Methods: This paper is a narrative review. Literature was searched in PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science using the keywords “CRISPR-Cas9,” “nanobiotechnology,” “cancer therapy,” and “personalized medicine,” covering publications from 2019 to 2025. Eligible articles included original research, preclinical studies, clinical trials, and review papers focused on CRISPR delivery via nanocarriers for cancer treatment. Over 50 articles were reviewed, and findings were synthesized qualitatively.
Results: The reviewed studies reported the following key findings:
CRISPR-Cas9 as a therapeutic tool – Demonstrated efficacy in silencing oncogenes (e.g., KRAS, MYC) and overcoming mechanisms of drug resistance.
Nanocarrier-mediated delivery – Lipid nanoparticles, biodegradable polymers, and metal-organic frameworks improved the stability and tumor specificity of CRISPR cargo.
Preclinical success – Animal models showed reduced tumor growth and enhanced immune response when CRISPR was delivered via nanocarriers.
Personalized strategies – Patient-specific genomic profiling enabled the identification of appropriate gene targets and optimized delivery approaches.
Challenges – Off-target effects, immune reactions, production cost, and regulatory concerns remain major barriers to clinical translatio
Conclusion: The combination of CRISPR-Cas9 and nanobiotechnology provides a promising foundation for the future of personalized cancer therapy. By enabling precise genome editing and targeted delivery, this approach has the potential to overcome the limitations of conventional treatments. Nevertheless, addressing safety issues, minimizing off-target activity, and conducting large-scale clinical trials are essential steps before widespread application. Ultimately, CRISPR–nanotechnology platforms could reshape cancer care and serve as a model for treating other genetic disorders.
Keywords: CRISPR-Cas9; Nanobiotechnology; Cancer therapy; Personalized medicine; Medical genetics.