Functional nanoporous materials represent a transformative frontier in biomedical research, offering unparalleled advantages in drug delivery, biosensing, regenerative medicine, and tissue engineering. Their high surface area, tunable pore architecture, and superior physicochemical properties facilitate controlled drug release, selective molecular filtration, and enhanced bioactivity. Cutting-edge fabrication techniques, including sol–gel synthesis, electrospinning, hard and soft templating, and advanced additive manufacturing, have enabled precise structural modulation, optimising their biocompatibility and therapeutic performance. Moreover, the integration of stimuli-responsive mechanisms, hybrid nanocomposites, and biomimetic coatings has expanded their applicability in targeted drug delivery, cancer theranostics, and antimicrobial therapy. Despite significant progress, challenges related to large-scale production, long-term stability, and clinical translation remain critical hurdles. This review provides an in-depth analysis of state-of-the-art fabrication strategies, their biomedical implications, and future directions in harnessing nanoporous architectures for next-generation healthcare solutions.
Majumdar et al. (2026) studied this question.