Transformable nanosystems for cancer treatment.

OBJECTIVE

To review the design strategies and therapeutic applications of transformable nanosystems in cancer therapy.

SIGNIFICANCE OF REVIEW: Conventional nanosystems face limitations in tumor penetration, cellular uptake, immune evasion, and adaptability to the tumor microenvironment. Transformable nanosystems can dynamically respond to tumor-specific stimuli, improving therapeutic efficacy and reducing systemic toxicity.

KEY FINDINGS: Recent studies on transformable nanosystems were reviewed, focusing on stimuli-responsive mechanisms, therapeutic applications, theranostics, and strategies to overcome metastasis and multidrug resistance. Transformable nanosystems improved tumor penetration, cellular uptake, controlled drug release, immune modulation, and therapeutic efficacy through mechanisms such as size reduction, charge reversal, shell detachment, and morphology transformation.

CONCLUSIONS

Transformable nanosystems are promising next-generation platforms for cancer therapy; however, challenges related to safety, scalability, and clinical translation remain.