Self-Assembled Nanoparticles: Overcoming Limitations of Conventional Nanomedicines for Enhanced Tumor Therapy

The high mortality rate associated with cancer presents a significant clinical challenge, necessitating breakthroughs to overcome the limitations of traditional therapies, which often entail substantial side effects, as well as the complexities associated with existing nanodelivery systems (NDDS) that lack adequate targeting capabilities. Self-assembled nanoparticles (SANs) form spontaneously through weak interactions between drugs and functional molecules, such as hydrogen bonds and hydrophobic interactions. They exhibit revolutionary advantages, including ultra-high drug loading capacity, stimulus responsiveness, precise drug release, self-driven targeting capabilities, and a straightforward preparation process that does not require complex carrier synthesis. This review systematically summarizes the latest advancements in SANs for tumor therapy, emphasizing their molecular design principles and mainstream preparation strategies, while detailing their efficacy in multi-modal synergistic therapies, including chemotherapy, photodynamic/photothermal therapy, immunotherapy, and gene therapy. The technology of SANs establishes a robust foundation for the development of highly efficient and low-toxicity anti-cancer strategies, demonstrating significant potential to offer a transformative new paradigm for clinical precision therapy. We believe that the continued evolution of SANs holds great promise for clinical translation, potentially offering transformative solutions for personalized oncology in the near future.