Even though nanoparticle drug delivery
systems (nanoDDSs) have
improved antitumor efficacy by delivering more drugs to tumor sites
compared to free and unencapsulated therapeutics, achieving satisfactory
distribution and penetration of nanoDDSs inside solid tumors, especially
in stromal fibrous tumors, remains challenging. As one of the most
common stromal cells in solid tumors, tumor-associated fibroblasts
(TAFs) not only promote tumor growth and metastasis but also reduce
the drug delivery efficiency of nanoparticles through the tumor’s
inherent physical and physiological barriers. Thus, TAFs have been
emerging as attractive targets, and TAF-targeting nanotherapeutics
have been extensively explored to enhance the tumor delivery efficiency
and efficacy of various anticancer agents. The purpose of this Review
is to opportunely summarize the underlying mechanisms of TAFs on obstructing
nanoparticle-mediated drug delivery into tumors and discuss the current
advances of a plethora of nanotherapeutic approaches for effectively
targeting TAFs.
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