Research progress of nano drug delivery systems in the anti-tumor treatment of traditional Chinese medicine monomers

Tumors pose a serious threat to global public health and are usually treated from two aspects: tumor cells and tumor microenvironment. Compared with traditional chemotherapy drugs, traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) monomers have advantages in tumor treatment, such as multiple targets, multiple leve...

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Main Authors: Bocui Song, Li Shuang, Shuang Zhang, Chunyu Tong, Qian Chen, Yuqi Li, Meihan Hao, Wenqi Niu, Cheng-Hao Jin
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: PeerJ Inc. 2025-04-01
Series:PeerJ
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Online Access:https://peerj.com/articles/19332.pdf
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author Bocui Song
Li Shuang
Shuang Zhang
Chunyu Tong
Qian Chen
Yuqi Li
Meihan Hao
Wenqi Niu
Cheng-Hao Jin
author_facet Bocui Song
Li Shuang
Shuang Zhang
Chunyu Tong
Qian Chen
Yuqi Li
Meihan Hao
Wenqi Niu
Cheng-Hao Jin
author_sort Bocui Song
collection DOAJ
description Tumors pose a serious threat to global public health and are usually treated from two aspects: tumor cells and tumor microenvironment. Compared with traditional chemotherapy drugs, traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) monomers have advantages in tumor treatment, such as multiple targets, multiple levels and synergistic intervention. However, most TCM active ingredients have disadvantages such as poor water solubility and stability, which restrict their clinical application. Nano drug delivery systems have the functions of improving the bioavailability of TCM anti-tumor active ingredients, enhancing tissue targeting, achieving controlled drug release, and inhibiting tumor multidrug resistance. Compared with free monomers, they have higher therapeutic effects and fewer side effects. This article summarizes five commonly used anti-tumor TCM monomer nanocarriers, including lipid nanomaterials, exosomes, polymer micelles, carbon nanotubes, and dendrimers, and explains their anti-tumor mechanisms after combining with TCM, such as inhibiting tumor cell proliferation and metastasis, regulating tumor microenvironment, etc. At the same time, the potential of nano drug delivery systems combined with radiotherapy and immunotherapy is discussed, as well as the current problems of potential toxicity, long-term stability, and complex amplification process, as well as future development directions, aiming to provide a reference for promoting the clinical application of nano drug delivery systems for TCM anti-tumor active ingredients.
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institution OA Journals
issn 2167-8359
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publishDate 2025-04-01
publisher PeerJ Inc.
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spelling doaj-art-bb5b16b2463c40bb931ff9aff2c001382025-08-20T02:29:38ZengPeerJ Inc.PeerJ2167-83592025-04-0113e1933210.7717/peerj.19332Research progress of nano drug delivery systems in the anti-tumor treatment of traditional Chinese medicine monomersBocui Song0Li Shuang1Shuang Zhang2Chunyu Tong3Qian Chen4Yuqi Li5Meihan Hao6Wenqi Niu7Cheng-Hao Jin8College of Life Science and Technology, Heilongjiang Bayi Agricultural University, Daqing, Heilongjiang, ChinaCollege of Life Science and Technology, Heilongjiang Bayi Agricultural University, Daqing, Heilongjiang, ChinaComprehensive Service Center, Yongji Economic Development Zone, Jilin, Jilin, ChinaCollege of Life Science and Technology, Heilongjiang Bayi Agricultural University, Daqing, Heilongjiang, ChinaCollege of Life Science and Technology, Heilongjiang Bayi Agricultural University, Daqing, Heilongjiang, ChinaCollege of Life Science and Technology, Heilongjiang Bayi Agricultural University, Daqing, Heilongjiang, ChinaCollege of Life Science and Technology, Heilongjiang Bayi Agricultural University, Daqing, Heilongjiang, ChinaCollege of Life Science and Technology, Heilongjiang Bayi Agricultural University, Daqing, Heilongjiang, ChinaCollege of Life Science and Technology, Heilongjiang Bayi Agricultural University, Daqing, Heilongjiang, ChinaTumors pose a serious threat to global public health and are usually treated from two aspects: tumor cells and tumor microenvironment. Compared with traditional chemotherapy drugs, traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) monomers have advantages in tumor treatment, such as multiple targets, multiple levels and synergistic intervention. However, most TCM active ingredients have disadvantages such as poor water solubility and stability, which restrict their clinical application. Nano drug delivery systems have the functions of improving the bioavailability of TCM anti-tumor active ingredients, enhancing tissue targeting, achieving controlled drug release, and inhibiting tumor multidrug resistance. Compared with free monomers, they have higher therapeutic effects and fewer side effects. This article summarizes five commonly used anti-tumor TCM monomer nanocarriers, including lipid nanomaterials, exosomes, polymer micelles, carbon nanotubes, and dendrimers, and explains their anti-tumor mechanisms after combining with TCM, such as inhibiting tumor cell proliferation and metastasis, regulating tumor microenvironment, etc. At the same time, the potential of nano drug delivery systems combined with radiotherapy and immunotherapy is discussed, as well as the current problems of potential toxicity, long-term stability, and complex amplification process, as well as future development directions, aiming to provide a reference for promoting the clinical application of nano drug delivery systems for TCM anti-tumor active ingredients.https://peerj.com/articles/19332.pdfTumorNanotechnologyDrug deliveryTraditional Chinese medicine (TCM) monomers
spellingShingle Bocui Song
Li Shuang
Shuang Zhang
Chunyu Tong
Qian Chen
Yuqi Li
Meihan Hao
Wenqi Niu
Cheng-Hao Jin
Research progress of nano drug delivery systems in the anti-tumor treatment of traditional Chinese medicine monomers
PeerJ
Tumor
Nanotechnology
Drug delivery
Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) monomers
title Research progress of nano drug delivery systems in the anti-tumor treatment of traditional Chinese medicine monomers
title_full Research progress of nano drug delivery systems in the anti-tumor treatment of traditional Chinese medicine monomers
title_fullStr Research progress of nano drug delivery systems in the anti-tumor treatment of traditional Chinese medicine monomers
title_full_unstemmed Research progress of nano drug delivery systems in the anti-tumor treatment of traditional Chinese medicine monomers
title_short Research progress of nano drug delivery systems in the anti-tumor treatment of traditional Chinese medicine monomers
title_sort research progress of nano drug delivery systems in the anti tumor treatment of traditional chinese medicine monomers
topic Tumor
Nanotechnology
Drug delivery
Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) monomers
url https://peerj.com/articles/19332.pdf
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