A superior method for antitumor therapy and application: dual-ligand nanomedicines

Currently, nanomedicines have been widely applied in the treatment of various types of tumors. However, due to the complexity of the tumor microenvironment, conventional nanomedicines often exhibit poor efficacy, insufficient site specificity, and susceptibility to off-target effects. In contrast, dual-ligand nanomedicines demonstrate superior targeting ability and drug penetration in tumor therapy. These nanomedicines are equipped with two ligands on their surface, enabling targeting of specific receptors on the same or different cells. The specific binding between ligands and receptors significantly enhances the selectivity and targeting of dual-ligand nanomedicines towards tumors. This review systematically describes the preparation of dual-ligand nanomedicines, the influencing factors, and the types of delivered drugs, focusing on the application of dual-ligand nanomedicines in targeting the treatment of various tumors. We highlight the comprehensiveness of dual-ligand nanomedicines for the treatment of tumors, including glioblastoma, lung cancer, breast cancer, gastric cancer, and many other types of tumors. Finally, the possible challenges for the future development of dual-ligand nanomedicines in terms of preparation, clinic, and safety are further analyzed. We look forward to exploring dual-ligand nanomedicines in greater depth to provide references for their future development and clinical applications.