Nanoplatforms as Solutions to Overcome Chemoresistance in Cancer Therapy

Abstract

Tumor chemoresistance, driven by mechanisms such as drug efflux, DNA repair, apoptosis inactivation, immunosuppressive microenvironments, and the maintenance of cancer stem cell (CSC) stemness, remains a major obstacle to effective chemotherapy and patient prognosis. Engineered nanoplatforms offer multifaceted strategies to overcome these barriers, including passive targeting, ligand-mediated active targeting, and membrane-mimetic camouflage for enhanced tumor accumulation. Stimuli-responsive and prodrug-based systems exploit tumor microenvironmental features, such as low pH, high glutathione, enzyme overexpression, and redox gradients, to achieve precise spatiotemporal drug release while avoiding efflux and inactivation. Codelivery of chemotherapeutics with sensitizers, immunotherapeutic agents, gene therapeutics, or physical stimuli enables synergistic intervention across multiple resistance pathways. Critically, CSC-targeted nanoplatforms selectively eliminate the root causes of tumor relapse and metastasis. By integrating targeted delivery, controlled release, multidrug synergy, and CSC elimination, nanotechnology platforms transform the management of chemoresistance from passive mitigation toward proactive prevention, offering a promising foundation for clinical translation and personalized cancer therapy.