Regulating Autophagy in Nanomedicine: Advancing Cancer Therapy

Autophagy, a cellular process responsible for degrading and recycling damaged organelles and proteins, plays a crucial role in maintaining cellular homeostasis and responding to stress. In cancer therapy, autophagy exhibits dual roles, acting as both a protective mechanism for cancer cells and a therapeutic target. Nanomedicine, with its ability to precisely deliver drugs and modulate biological processes at the cellular level, offers novel opportunities to regulate autophagy and enhance the efficacy of cancer treatments. This review explores the intricate relationship between autophagy and nanomedicine, highlighting how nanoparticles can be engineered to modulate autophagic pathways to either promote cancer cell death or inhibit tumor survival. We discuss various strategies, such as the use of nanocarriers, including nanoparticles, nanocapsules, and nanogels, to selectively target autophagy-related proteins and pathways in cancer cells. Furthermore, the potential of combining autophagy modulation with other therapeutic approaches, including chemotherapy, photodynamic therapy (PDT), photothermal therapy (PTT), sonodynamic therapy (SDT), immunotherapy and multiple therapeutics, is examined. Understanding the complex interplay between autophagy and nanomedicine is essential for developing advanced therapeutic strategies that can overcome treatment resistance and improve cancer outcomes. This review provides a comprehensive overview of current advancements and future directions in regulating autophagy in nanomedicine for cancer therapy.