International Journal of Nanomedicine

Shaping the Tumor Microenvironment with Nanomedicine

The tumor microenvironment (TME) is a unique ecosystem surrounding a tumor, comprising various cells, molecules, and structures that interact with cancer cells. This environment plays a critical role in promoting tumor growth, enabling immune evasion, and driving treatment resistance. Traditional cancer therapies often struggle to penetrate and alter this dynamic ecosystem, making the TME a prime target for innovative therapeutic approaches.

Nanomedicine has emerged as a powerful tool to directly modulate the TME. By designing nanoparticles to deliver drugs, genetic material, or immunomodulatory agents specifically to the tumor site, researchers can precisely target and remodel components of the TME. One notable application is the use of immunostimulatory nanoparticles to enhance T-cell infiltration into the TME to counteract the immunosuppressive conditions established by many tumors. Nanoparticle-based neoantigen vaccines are another promising frontier in cancer treatment, exploiting the specificity of tumor neoantigens to engage the immune system in a targeted and personalized attack on cancer. These innovations hold great potential for more effective and targeted cancer therapies. In addition, recent advances in nanomedicine are enabling responsive nanoparticles that can release their therapeutic payload upon detection of specific signals within the TME, such as a drop in pH or the presence of certain enzymes. While challenges remain - such as ensuring targeted delivery and minimizing off-target effects - ongoing research continues to reveal innovative ways to use nanomedicine to alter the TME and improve therapeutic outcomes. As these technologies evolve, nanomedicine has the potential to reshape the therapeutic landscape by transforming the TME from a cancer-supportive niche to an environment that actively combats tumor growth.

All manuscripts submitted to this Article Collection will undergo full peer-review; Guest Advisors will not be handling submitted articles. Please review the journal’s aims and scope and author submission instructions prior to submission.

Please submit your manuscript through the Dovepress website. During submission, enter the promo code OOBHZ to indicate that your article should be considered for this Collection. Please note that normal Article Processing Charges will apply.

Please contact Haoyang Yi (Commissioning Editor) at haoyang.yi@taylorandfrancis.com with any queries regarding this Article Collection.

Guest advisor

Dr. Yong Teng, Emory University

yong.teng@emory.edu

Dr. Teng’s primary research interests focus on connecting three major themes—tumor microenvironment, tumor metabolism, and metastasis—by studying tumor-immune interactions and developing combination antitumor therapies and treatment strategies. He also has extensive experience in drug discovery, nanomedicine, and biomarker studies. He has published over 160 papers in high-profile journals.