Self-assembled nanoplatforms for chemodynamic therapy

Chemodynamic therapy (CDT) is an emerging tumor treatment that produces highly toxic hydroxyl radicals (·OH) by activating the Fenton reaction in tumors to kill tumor cells. CDT is activated by endogenous stimulation without the need for external stimulation or external energy input; compared with other therapeutic modalities, it has the great advantages of highly tumor specificity and fewer systemic side effects. However, the therapeutic effect of CDT is weakened by the human body’s insufficient internal H2O2 supply and overexpression of glutathione (GSH, a reducing substance in the tumor microenvironment). Self-assembly, one of the most common bottom-up preparation strategies, injects new energy into CDT. On the one hand, it makes the preparation of materials simpler and cheaper. On the other hand, it can effectively combine Fenton reagents with other functional molecules, endowing them with more functions and effectively improving their anti-tumor efficiency. Herein, we summarize and discuss recent research progress on the design and construction of self-assembled nanomaterials for CDT and CDT-based combinational therapies, aiming to explore potential challenges and approaches in order to promote the effectiveness of CDT and provide reference for its future development in clinical translation.