Integration of active ingredients from traditional Chinese medicine with nano-delivery systems for tumor immunotherapy

Tumor immune escape presents a significant challenge in cancer treatment, characterized by the upregulation of immune inhibitory molecules and dysfunction of immune cells. Tumor immunotherapy seeks to restore normal anti-tumor immune responses to control and eliminate tumors effectively. The active ingredients of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) demonstrate a variety of anti-tumor activities and mechanisms, including the modulation of immune cell functions and inhibiting tumor-related suppressive factors, thereby potentially enhancing anti-tumor immune responses. Furthermore, nano-delivery systems function as efficient carriers to enhance the bioavailability and targeted delivery of TCM active ingredients, augmenting therapeutic efficacy. This review comprehensively analyzes the impact of TCM active ingredients on the immune system and explores the synergistic application of nano-delivery systems in combination with TCM active ingredients for enhancing tumor immunotherapy.