Advances in Engineered Nano-sensitizers for Chemoradiotherapy of Cancer: Overcoming Microenvironmental Barriers

Zi-Yan Zheng; Dan-Hua Zhou; Zhi-Hua Gan; Qing-Song Yu

doi:10.1007/s10118-026-3748-9

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Advances in Engineered Nano-sensitizers for Chemoradiotherapy of Cancer: Overcoming Microenvironmental Barriers

REVIEW | Updated：2026-09-23

- Advances in Engineered Nano-sensitizers for Chemoradiotherapy of Cancer: Overcoming Microenvironmental Barriers
- Chinese Journal of Polymer Science Vol. 44, Issue 10, Pages: 3231-3252(2026)
- Affiliations：
  
  a.The State Key Laboratory of Organic−Inorganic Composites, Beijing Laboratory of Biomedical Materials, Key Laboratory of Biomedical Materials of Natural Macromolecules (Ministry of Education), College of Life Science and Technology, Beijing University of Chemical Technology, Beijing 100029, China
  b.Innovation Laboratory for Sciences and Technologies of Energy Materials of Fujian Province (IKKEM), Xiamen 361005, China
- Author bio：
  
  zhoudh@xmu.edu.cn (D.H.Z.)
  yuqs@mail.buct.edu.cn (Q.S.Y.)
- Funds：
- DOI：10.1007/s10118-026-3748-9
  CLC：
- Received：23 March 2026，
  
  Accepted：15 May 2026，
  
  Online First：05 August 2026，
  
  Published：05 October 2026
- Accepted：
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Zheng, Z. Y.; Zhou, D. H.; Gan, Z. H.; Yu, Q. S. Advances in engineered nano-sensitizers for chemoradiotherapy of cancer: overcoming microenvironmental barriers. Chinese J. Polym. Sci. 2026, 44, 3231–3252

Zi-Yan Zheng, Dan-Hua Zhou, Zhi-Hua Gan, et al. Advances in Engineered Nano-sensitizers for Chemoradiotherapy of Cancer: Overcoming Microenvironmental Barriers[J]. Chinese Journal of Polymer Science, 2026, 44(10): 3231-3252.
Zheng, Z. Y.; Zhou, D. H.; Gan, Z. H.; Yu, Q. S. Advances in engineered nano-sensitizers for chemoradiotherapy of cancer: overcoming microenvironmental barriers. Chinese J. Polym. Sci. 2026, 44, 3231–3252 DOI： 10.1007/s10118-026-3748-9.

Zi-Yan Zheng, Dan-Hua Zhou, Zhi-Hua Gan, et al. Advances in Engineered Nano-sensitizers for Chemoradiotherapy of Cancer: Overcoming Microenvironmental Barriers[J]. Chinese Journal of Polymer Science, 2026, 44(10): 3231-3252. DOI： 10.1007/s10118-026-3748-9.

摘要

This review highlights nano-sensitizers that overcome TME barriers

such as hypoxia

acidity

and dense matrix

to enhance chemoradiotherapy (CRT) efficacy

and discusses responsive strategies and clinical translation progress.

Abstract

Conventional chemotherapy and radiotherapy damage normal tissues due to off-target toxicity

impairing patient prognosis. Chemoradiotherapy (CRT)—the concurrent use of chemotherapy and radiotherapy—has gained considerable attention

as it suppresses primary tumors and reduces metastasis. However

dose-limiting drug toxicity remains a major barrier to clinical CRT. To mitigate adverse effects and improve drug bioavailability

nano-sensitizer (NS)-mediated CRT has become a research focus. Nonetheless

unique tumor microenvironmental features

including hypoxia

abnormal vasculature

elevated reactive oxygen species

mild acidity

dense extracellular matrix

and immunosuppression

severely compromise NS efficacy. Accordingly

smart NS designed to surmount these microenvironmental barriers represent a key direction in drug development. This review summarizes recent advances in tumor microenvironment-targeted NS and their preclinical and clinical applications

aiming to deepen understanding of microenvironmental challenges in CRT and facilitate the development of potent NS.

关键词

Keywords

references

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