Nano-enabled strategies for enhancing cancer immunotherapy: challenges, progress and perspective

To review the role of nanotechnology in enhancing cancer immunotherapy, particularly immune checkpoint blockade (ICB), adoptive cell therapy (ACT), and cancer vaccines. It addresses key challenges in solid tumors, including poor drug delivery, immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment (TME), immune resistance, and treatment-related toxicity.

A narrative review of recent preclinical and clinical studies was conducted to evaluate how nanoplatforms improve targeted delivery, modulate the TME, enhance immune activation, and support immunotherapeutic efficacy. Challenges related to biosafety, biodistribution, scalability, and clinical translation were also discussed.

Current findings demonstrate that nanotechnology-based platforms can significantly improve cancer immunotherapy outcomes. Nanomedicines enhance ICB by increasing intratumoral drug accumulation and reversing immune suppression within the TME. In ACT, nanoplatforms improve T cell persistence, function, and tumor infiltration. Nanoformulations also strengthen cancer vaccines through more efficient antigen delivery and enhanced antigen presentation.

Preclinical and early clinical studies suggest that nano-immunotherapies can overcome important biological barriers and enhance antitumor immune responses while reducing systemic toxicity.

Overall, nano-immunotherapy represents a promising strategy for improving the efficacy of cancer immunotherapy, particularly in solid tumors. Despite progress, several challenges remain, including long-term safety concerns, variability in nanoparticle design, manufacturing scalability, regulatory issues, and limited clinical data. Further researches are needed to optimize delivery systems, ensure safety, and facilitate successful clinical translation toward more effective and personalized cancer treatments.