Nanotechnology mediated local interventions with systemic immunotherapy for hepatocellular carcinoma: Intelligent...

The therapeutic response of unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is constrained by the disconnect between effective local tumor management and systemic immune activation. Traditional locoregional interventions often induce a microenvironment that displays an immunosuppressive state which limits systemic immune response. And these nanomedicine strategies for local and systemic treatment are emerging as a transformative interface to bridge this gap. This review summarizes and explains the typical approaches mainly including re-engineering local therapies into in situ vaccination platforms via metabolic reprogramming and immunogenic cell death induction, which serve as precision tools to dismantle immunosuppressive barriers through targeted delivery of immunomodulators and enhanced ICI penetration, and extending treatment to low-reactivity tumor. There is already sufficient evidence that nano-engineered systems synergize with ICIs to convert cold tumors into immunologically active lesions, establishing durable systemic immunity while improving local control. In the future, it may become a potential option for diversified treatment of refractory HCC.