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Tumor Microenvironment-Responsive Polymer Delivery Platforms for Cancer Therapy

Yiqi Shi1, Qianqian Yu1, Lijie Tan2

  • 1Key Laboratory for Advanced Materials and Joint International Research Laboratory of Precision Chemistry and Molecular Engineering, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Functional Materials Chemistry, Feringa Nobel Prize Scientist Joint Research Center, Institute of Fine Chemicals, Frontiers Science Center for Materiobiology and Dynamic Chemistry, School of Chemistry and Molecular Engineering, East China University of Science and Technology, Shanghai, 200237, P.R. China.

Angewandte Chemie (International Ed. in English)
|April 11, 2025
PubMed

Insights

Stimuli-responsive polymer delivery platforms, leveraging the tumor microenvironment (TME), enhance anticancer drug delivery and bioimaging. These TME-responsive systems improve targeting precision and reduce damage to healthy tissues.

Area of Science:

  • Biomaterials Science
  • Nanotechnology
  • Oncology

Background:

  • Chemotherapeutic and bioimaging agents often suffer from poor bioavailability, limited biocompatibility, and lack of specific targeting.
  • This leads to reduced anticancer efficacy and inaccurate diagnostic imaging, posing significant challenges in cancer treatment.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review recent advancements in stimuli-responsive polymer delivery platforms that utilize the tumor microenvironment (TME).
  • To analyze the molecular design and responsive mechanisms of these platforms.
  • To summarize their applications in drug delivery and diagnostic imaging for cancer.

Main Methods:

  • Comprehensive literature review of TME-responsive polymer delivery systems.
  • Analysis of platforms responding to pH, reactive oxygen species (ROS), glutathione (GSH), enzymes, and hypoxia.
  • Examination of molecular design, responsive mechanisms, and bio-applications.

Main Results:

  • TME-responsive polymer platforms offer controlled release of therapeutic and diagnostic agents at the tumor site.
  • These systems improve targeting specificity, enhancing anticancer treatment efficacy and imaging precision.
  • They also minimize damage to healthy tissues and reduce false imaging signals from non-specific drug leakage.

Conclusions:

  • TME-responsive polymer delivery platforms represent a promising strategy to overcome limitations of conventional cancer therapies and diagnostics.
  • Further research into molecular and vector design is crucial for optimizing their performance.
  • These platforms hold significant potential for future advancements in precision oncology.
Keywords:
Cancer diagnosis and therapyDrug delivery and releasePolymer vector designResponsive molecular designTumor microenvironment‐responsive linkers

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