Smart Surface Engineering in Microcarriers: Toward Applications in Cancer Therapy

Abstract

Despite significant advances in cancer treatment, several challenges persist in optimizing effective cargo delivery, including enhancing bioavailability, improving targeted delivery, and overcoming biological barriers for improved tumor tissue penetration. There is an urgent need for versatile carriers capable of multi-functional targeting without compromising functionality. Here, we report a dual surface modification strategy to enhance the therapeutic efficacy of microrobotic platforms, through controlled, site-specific drug release. This dual functionalization integrates two distinct pH-sensitive polymeric nanoreservoirs with different membrane permeability. One nanoreservoir is engineered to release an antitumor agent -curcumin- in response to the acidic tumor microenvironment, while the second is designed to degrade the tumor extracellular matrix via enzymatic activity, facilitating enhanced diffussion of the therapeutic agent. This dual surface modification approach represents a significant advancement in the customizable integration of multifunctional nanoreservoirs. By leveraging dual compartmentalization, it prevents deactivation and cross-process interference, enabling precise nanoscale combination therapies for microrobotic cancer treatment. These surface-engineered microrobots hold promise for overcoming physiological barriers, ensuring stable cargo transport, and broadening the applicability of microrobotic platforms across diverse cancer types.