Advancements in Inorganic Chiral Nanomaterials for Anti-Tumor Immunotherapy

While the past decade has witnessed unprecedented technological advancements, cancer remains a major health threat, with conventional therapies often constrained by substantial limitations. Immunotherapy, which mobilizes the body's immune system, is hindered by off-target effects, allergic reactions, and cytokine storms. To enhance the precision, safety, and efficacy of cancer treatments, nanomaterials-especially those with nanoscale chiral properties-are offering a new approach for modulating immune responses. The optical anisotropy factor (g-factor) of these nanomaterials has demonstrated precise, monotonic control over immune responses in vivo and in vitro, revealing that nanoscale chiral structures can act as key switches for dendritic cell maturation and function. Inorganic nanomaterials (INMs) are gaining attention for tumor immunotherapy due to their stability, biocompatibility, and precise synthesis. Their versatile surface modification, excellent optical/electrical/magnetic properties, and reproducibility further enhance their utility. Inorganic chiral nanomaterials (ICNMs), leveraging atomically precise chiral structures, enable efficient drug loading and radiosensitization to trigger anti-tumor immunity, overcoming immunosuppressive limitations. Representative ICNMs include chiral gold nanorods, cadmium selenide quantum dots, and cerium oxide nanosheets. Current research focuses on chiral structure control, surface engineering, and multifunctional integration. ICNMs enhance antitumor immunity through targeted immunomodulator delivery, induction of immunogenic cell death, direct immune-cell regulation, and reshaping of the tumor immune microenvironment. Despite their promise, challenges remain in scalable production, long-term biosafety, and chiral stability in complex biological settings. Looking forward, ICNMs are poised to enable precise, efficient, and low-toxicity tumor immunotherapy, driving transformative advances in cancer care.