Boosting cancer therapy with self-assembled inorganic nanocarriers via host-guest chemistry

Inorganic nanocarriers (INCs) have been widely used in drug delivery systems due to their excellent biocompatibility, ease of synthesis and functionalization, cost-effectiveness, and robust physicochemical stability. However, small-sized INCs are prone to rapid in vivo clearance, resulting in low accumulation and limited retention in target tissues or cells, significantly reducing their therapeutic efficacy. The self-assembly of small INCs into large aggregates represents an innovative approach for enhancing their tumor-specific accumulation and retention. This review primarily focuses on the stimuli-responsive self-assembly of INCs, including gold nanoparticles, calcium carbonate nanoparticles, ferroferric oxide nanoparticles, and silica nanoparticles, driven by supramolecular host-guest interactions. Specifically, this strategy aims to increase accumulation concentrations, prolong retention time, and achieve precise spatiotemporal control over drug release for tumor treatment. Thus, this review provides a critical summary and reference for exploring supramolecular host-guest interactions in drug delivery systems and promotes the advancement of supramolecular chemistry as an emerging interdisciplinary field.