Recent advances in gut microbiota-based nanotherapies for cancer treatment

The effect of gut microbiota on carcinogenesis and progression has been demonstrated and arisen wide attention. Notably, specific microbial communities demonstrate dual therapeutic potential in enhancing anti-tumor treatment efficacy and mitigating chemotherapy-induced adverse effects, positioning microbial intervention as an innovative paradigm in oncology therapeutics. However, the clinical application of oral delivery of free-living gut microbiota faces significant challenges due to their inherent instability and premature clearance within the gastrointestinal tract. This biological limitation underscores the critical need for advanced delivery systems capable of preserving microbial viability and achieving targeted delivery. Nanotherapy, renowned for their precise targeting capabilities, exceptional biocompatibility, and enhanced pharmacokinetic profiles, have demonstrated transformative potential across biomedical applications, with several formulations already advancing to clinical implementation. Remarkably, current research on the delivery of gut microbiota for cancer treatment via nanotechnology remains limited and lacks comprehensive summarization. Therefore, this review systematically summarized recent advancements in gut microbiota-mediated nanotherapeutic strategies against cancer, proposing novel conceptual frameworks for synergistic microbiota-nanotherapy integration in cancer interventions.