Stimuli‐responsive polypeptide nanoassemblies: Recent progress and applications in cancer nanomedicine

Abstract Stimuli‐responsive polypeptide nanoassemblies exhibit great potentials for cancer nanomedicines because of desirable biocompatibility and biodegradability, unique secondary conformations, varying functionalities, and especially the stimuli‐enhanced therapeutic efficacy and reduced side effect. This review introduces the design and fabrication of stimuli‐responsive polypeptide nanoassemblies that exhibit endogenous stimuli (e.g., pH, reduction, reactive oxygen species, adenosine triphosphate and enzyme, etc.) and exogenous light stimuli (e.g., UV and near‐infrared light), which are biologically related or applied in the clinic. We also discuss the applications and prospects of those stimuli‐responsive polypeptide nanoassemblies that might overcome the biological barriers of cancer nanomedicines for in vivo administration. Much more effort is needed to accelerate the second‐generation stimuli‐responsive polypeptide nanomedicines for clinical transition and applications. This article is categorized under: Therapeutic Approaches and Drug Discovery > Nanomedicine for Oncologic Disease