[Exploration and application of nanotechnology in precision transarterial chemoembolization for hepatocellular...

Transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) is a first-line therapy for intermediate-to-advanced- stage hepatocellular carcinoma, but its clinical efficacy is often limited by incomplete embolization, systemic toxicity of chemotherapeutic drugs, and tumor recurrence and metastasis caused by the postoperative microenvironment. The emergence of nanotechnology provides a novel solution to overcome these bottlenecks. This article aims to review new strategies and clinical translations of nanoparticles as intelligent carriers in enhancing the TACE efficacy. Furthermore, it focuses on the latest advances of nanotechnology in achieving precise embolization, targeted drug delivery, multimodal imaging guidance, and others. This article further analyzes the new concept of the synergistic therapeutic approach of loading anti-angiogenic drugs or active ingredients from traditional Chinese medicine onto nanocarriers to synergistically enhance the anti-recurrence effect of TACE, and lists relevant nanomedicine cases that have entered clinical trials. Although nanotechnology still faces challenges, such as biosafety profile, large-scale production, and personalized application in the clinical translation of TACE, the deep integration of materials science, interventional medicine, and biotechnology to build an "integrated diagnosis and treatment" intelligent nanoplatform will surely propel TACE from empirical treatment to a new era of precision medicine, opening up new avenues for improving the prognosis of patients with intermediate and advanced stage HCC.