Smart delivery vehicles for cancer: categories, unique roles and therapeutic strategies

Chemotherapy and surgery remain the primary treatment modalities for cancers; however, these techniques have drawbacks, such as cancer recurrence and toxic side effects, necessitating more efficient cancer treatment strategies. Recent advancements in research and medical technology have provided novel insights and expanded our understanding of cancer development; consequently, scholars have investigated several delivery vehicles for cancer therapy to improve the efficiency of cancer treatment and patient outcomes. Herein, we summarize several types of smart therapeutic carriers and elaborate on the mechanism underlying drug delivery. We reveal the advantages of smart therapeutic carriers for cancer treatment, focus on their effectiveness in cancer immunotherapy, and discuss the application of smart cancer therapy vehicles in combination with other emerging therapeutic strategies for cancer treatment. Finally, we summarize the bottlenecks encountered in the development of smart cancer therapeutic vehicles and suggest directions for future research. This review will promote progress in smart cancer therapy and facilitate related research.