biostudies-literatureUnknown5Fuoco DIn recent years, there has been a significant increase in literature on emerging nanotechnologies, including nanoparticles, nanorobots, and exosomes, for various therapeutic applications. Additionally, politically driven research initiatives aimed at accelerating COVID-19 vaccine development have further amplified interest in nanoparticles as drug delivery systems. This article provides a personal perspective on the scientific claims surrounding nanoparticles by: (i) analyzing the historical evolution of their terminology, (ii) reviewing the most cited publications in the field, and (iii) offering a professional assessment to guide the next-generation of medicinal chemists. A key aspect of this discussion is the stealth effect, which refers to the ability of nanoparticles to evade recognitFrontiers in drug delivery1564120https://www.ebi.ac.uk/biostudies/studies/S-EPMC12360436biostudies-literatureThe stealth effect from a medicinal chemist perspective: definition and updates.PMC12360436Fuoco DfalseThe stealth effect from a medicinal chemist perspective: definition and updates.In recent years, there has been a significant increase in literature on emerging nanotechnologies, including nanoparticles, nanorobots, and exosomes, for various therapeutic applications. Additionally, politically driven research initiatives aimed at accelerating COVID-19 vaccine development have further amplified interest in nanoparticles as drug delivery systems. This article provides a personal perspective on the scientific claims surrounding nanoparticles by: (i) analyzing the historical evolution of their terminology, (ii) reviewing the most cited publications in the field, and (iii) offering a professional assessment to guide the next-generation of medicinal chemists. A key aspect of this discussion is the stealth effect, which refers to the ability of nanoparticles to evade recognit2025-01-01T00:00:00Z20252026-05-05T12:35:17.121Z2026-04-07T21:42:12.456ZS-EPMC123604364083770710.3389/fddev.2025.1564120