A pure nanoICG-based homogeneous lipiodol formulation: toward precise surgical navigation of primary liver cancer after long-term transcatheter arterial embolization

Fluorescence-guided Surgery for Hepatocellular Carcinoma: From Clinical Practice to Laboratories

Fluorescence navigation is a novel technique for accurately identifying hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) lesions during hepatectomy, enabling real-time visualization. Indocyanine green-based fluorescence guidance has been commonly used to demarcate HCC lesion boundaries, but it cannot distinguish between benign and malignant liver tumors. This review focused on the clinical applications and limitations of indocyanine green, as well as recent advances in novel fluorescent probes for fluorescence-guided surgery of HCC. It covers traditional fluorescent imaging probes such as enzymes, reactive oxygen species, reactive sulfur species, and pH-sensitive probes, followed by an introduction to aggregation-induced emission probes. Aggregation-induced emission probes exhibit strong fluorescence, low background signals, excellent biocompatibility, and high photostability in the aggregate state, but show no fluorescence in dilute solutions. Design strategies for these probes may offer insights for developing novel fluorescent probes for the real-time identification and navigation of HCC during surgery.

Optimizing interventional therapy: A homogeneous lipiodol formulation of Tirapazamine and Sorafenib responsive to post-embolization microenvironment

Transcatheter arterial chemoembolization (TACE) is the principal treatment option for patients with unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). However, the hypoxic microenvironment following TACE can promote angiogenesis and suppress tumor ferroptosis, resulting in an unfavorable prognosis. Tirapazamine (TPZ), a hypoxia-activated prodrug with specific cytotoxicity for hypoxic cells, making it a potential candidate for TACE. To develop an effective hypoxia-responsive drug delivery platform for TACE, we propose a novel lipiodol embolic formulation that integrates TPZ and sorafenib (SFB) by super-stable homogeneous intermixed formulation technology (SHIFT). This approach achieves the manufacture of embolic agents with stable drug dispersion characteristics, fulfilling the need for sustained drug release in TACE. The prolonged tumor penetration of TPZ exhibited embolization-responsive tumor killing, and its combination with SFB can suppress hypoxia-induced angiogenesis and trigger tumor ferroptosis, maintaining low oxygen levels, thereby boosting the therapeutic efficacy of TPZ. Conversely, TPZ can combat the resistance to SFB in hypoxic tumor cells. In summary, this study developed a novel embolization drug formulation based on embolic hypoxic microenvironment. The synergistic mechanism of TPZ and SFB enhances the therapeutic effects of hypoxia-activated prodrugs and mitigates the adverse effects of hypoxia.

Advances in molecular imaging and targeted therapeutics for lymph node metastasis in cancer: a comprehensive review

Lymph node metastasis is a critical indicator of cancer progression, profoundly affecting diagnosis, staging, and treatment decisions. This review article delves into the recent advancements in molecular imaging techniques for lymph nodes, which are pivotal for the early detection and staging of cancer. It provides detailed insights into how these techniques are used to visualize and quantify metastatic cancer cells, resident immune cells, and other molecular markers within lymph nodes. Furthermore, the review highlights the development of innovative, lymph node-targeted therapeutic strategies, which represent a significant shift towards more precise and effective cancer treatments. By examining cutting-edge research and emerging technologies, this review offers a comprehensive overview of the current and potential impact of lymph node-centric approaches on cancer diagnosis, staging, and therapy. Through its exploration of these topics, the review aims to illuminate the increasingly sophisticated landscape of cancer management strategies focused on lymph node assessment and intervention.

Molecular Design of Phthalocyanine-Based Drug Coassembly with Tailored Function

Coassemblies with tailored functions, such as drug loading, tissue targeting and releasing, therapeutic and/or imaging purposes, and so on, have been widely studied and applied in biomedicine. De novo design of these coassemblies hinges on an integrated approach involving synergy between various design strategies, ranging from structure screening of combinations of "phthalocyanine-chemotherapeutic drug" molecules for molecular scaffolds, exploration of related fabrication principles to verification of intended activity of specific designs. Here, we propose an integrated approach combining computation and experiments to design from scratch coassembled nanoparticles. This nanocoassembly, termed NanoPC here, consists of phthalocyanine-based scaffolds hosting chemotherapeutic drugs, aimed at hypersensitive chemotherapy guided by photoimaging for targeting tumors. Our design starts from the selection of phthalocyanine derivatives that are not aggregation-prone, followed by computational screening of coassembled molecules covering various categories of chemotherapy drugs. To facilitate an efficient and accurate assessment of coassembly capabilities, we utilize small systems as surrogates to enable free-energy calculations at all-atom levels facilitated with enhanced sampling and statistical mechanics for efficient and accurate evaluation of coassembly ability. The final top NanoPC candidate, comprised of phthalocyanine PcL and cytarabine (CYT), can greatly increase the fluorescence intensity ratio of tumor/liver by 21.5 times and achieve higher antitumor efficiency in a pH-dependent manner. Therefore, the designing approach proposed here has a potential pattern, which can provide ideas and references for the design and development of coassembled nanodrugs with tailored functions and applications in biomedicine.

Application of nanotechnology in the treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma

Hepatocellular carcinoma is the predominant histologic variant of hepatic malignancy and has become a major challenge to global health. The increasing incidence and mortality of hepatocellular carcinoma has created an urgent need for effective prevention, diagnosis, and treatment strategies. This is despite the impressive results of multiple treatments in the clinic. However, the unique tumor immunosuppressive microenvironment of hepatocellular carcinoma increases the difficulty of treatment and immune tolerance. In recent years, the application of nanoparticles in the treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma has brought new hope for tumor patients. Nano agents target tumor-associated fibroblasts, regulatory T cells, myeloid suppressor cells, tumor-associated macrophages, tumor-associated neutrophils, and immature dendritic cells, reversed the immunosuppressive microenvironment of hepatocellular carcinoma. In addition, he purpose of this review is to summarize the advantages of nanotechnology in guiding surgical excision, local ablation, TACE, standard chemotherapy, and immunotherapy, application of nano-vaccines has also continuously enriched the treatment of liver cancer. This study aims to investigate the potential applications of nanotechnology in the management of hepatocellular carcinoma, with the ultimate goal of enhancing therapeutic outcomes and improving the prognosis for patients affected by this malignancy.

Biomimetic nanocomplex based corneal neovascularization theranostics

Corneal neovascularization (CNV) is a major cause of blindness worldwide. However, the recent drug treatment is limited by repeated administration and low drug bioavailability. In this work, SU6668 (an inhibitor of receptor tyrosine kinases) and indocyanine green (ICG) are loaded onto poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA) nanoparticles, and then coated with anti-VEGFR2 single chain antibody (AbVr2 scFv) genetically engineered cell membrane vesicles. The nanomedicine is delivered via eye drops, and the hyperthermia induced by laser irradiation could block the blood vessels. Meanwhile, the photothermal effect can also cause the degradation of nanomaterials and release chemotherapeutic drugs in the blocked area, thereby continuously inhibit the neovascularization. Furthermore, SU6668 could inhibit the expression of heat shock protein 70 (HSP70), promoting the cell death induced by photothermal effect. In conclusion, the combination of photothermal and chemotherapy drugs provides a novel, effective and safe approach for the treatment of CNV.

Supercritical Fluids: An Innovative Strategy for Drug Development

Nanotechnology plays a pivotal role in the biomedical field, especially in the synthesis and regulation of drug particle size. Reducing drug particles to the micron or nanometer scale can enhance bioavailability. Supercritical fluid technology, as a green drug development strategy, is expected to resolve the challenges of thermal degradation, uneven particle size, and organic solvent residue faced by traditional methods such as milling and crystallization. This paper provides an insight into the application of super-stable homogeneous intermix formulating technology (SHIFT) and super-table pure-nanomedicine formulation technology (SPFT) developed based on supercritical fluids for drug dispersion and micronization. These technologies significantly enhance the solubility and permeability of hydrophobic drugs by controlling the particle size and morphology, and the modified drugs show excellent therapeutic efficacy in the treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma, pathological scarring, and corneal neovascularization, and their performance and efficacy are highlighted when administered through multiple routes of administration. Overall, supercritical fluids have opened a green and efficient pathway for clinical drug development, which is expected to reduce side effects and enhance therapeutic efficacy.

Super‐Stable Homogeneously Sustained‐Release System Mediates Transcatheter Arterial Ionic‐Embolization Strategy for Hepatocellular Carcinoma Therapy

The clinical effectiveness of locoregional therapies in treating hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is frequently constrained by multi‐drug resistance and/or tumor metastasis. To surmount these challenges, a promising approach, transcatheter arterial ionic‐embolization (TAIE) is proposed, which can specifically and continuously disrupt the intracellular ionic balance to significantly inhibit tumor activity and invasion. The hydrophilic micro‐nanoscale sodium chloride particles (SCPs) are ingeniously intermixed with hydrophobic lipiodol to create a super‐stable homogeneous embolic formulation (lipiodol‐sodium chloride, LSC). After interventional administration, the LSC selectively deposits in HCC lesions, where lipiodol stably delivers SCPs to disrupt the cell's ionic balance, causing cell death without drug resistance. Notably, it is demonstrated that LSC can significantly hinder tumor cell migration and invasion. The mechanism is through SCP disruption of the ionic balance, which induces cell swelling and subsequent vimentin hydrolysis‐mediated cytoskeletal remodeling. In addition, it is found that LSC treatment notably downregulates the expression of MYLK, TLN, and THBS2 genes in the focal adhesion (FA) signaling pathway of HepG2 cells. LSC formulation integrated tumor‐specific deposition, intratumoral sustained release, efficient tumoricidal activity, significant metastasis inhibition, and excellent biological safety, thereby demonstrating superior in vivo tumor therapeutic effects via TAIE strategy, and showing a promising cancer therapeutic approach for clinical application.

ICG-based laser treatments for ophthalmic diseases: Toward their safe and rapid strategy

The eye is a very important organ, and keratitis, corneal neovascularization, floaters, age-related macular degeneration, and other vision problems have seriously affected people's quality of life. Among the ophthalmic treatments, laser photocoagulations have been proposed and have shown therapeutic effects in clinical settings. However, corneal thinning and bleeding lesions induced by laser damage have led to limit its applications. To treat the issues of traditional hyperthermia treatments, photosensitizers [e.g., indocyanine green (ICG)] have been investigated to increase the therapeutic effects of corneal neovascularization and choroidal neovascularization. In the recent study, with the help of ICG, laser-induced nanobubble was proposed to treat vitreous opacities. The developed strategies could enlarge the effect of laser irradiation and reduce the side effects, so as to expand the scope of laser treatments in clinical ophthalmic diseases.

Simulation and Optimization: A New Direction in Supercritical Technology Based Nanomedicine

In recent years, nanomedicines prepared using supercritical technology have garnered widespread research attention due to their inherent attributes, including structural stability, high bioavailability, and commendable safety profiles. The preparation of these nanomedicines relies upon drug solubility and mixing efficiency within supercritical fluids (SCFs). Solubility is closely intertwined with operational parameters such as temperature and pressure while mixing efficiency is influenced not only by operational conditions but also by the shape and dimensions of the nozzle. Due to the special conditions of supercriticality, these parameters are difficult to measure directly, thus presenting significant challenges for the preparation and optimization of nanomedicines. Mathematical models can, to a certain extent, prognosticate solubility, while simulation models can visualize mixing efficiency during experimental procedures, offering novel avenues for advancing supercritical nanomedicines. Consequently, within the framework of this endeavor, we embark on an extensive review encompassing the application of mathematical models, artificial intelligence (AI) methodologies, and computational fluid dynamics (CFD) techniques within the medical domain of supercritical technology. We undertake the synthesis and discourse of methodologies for calculating drug solubility in SCFs, as well as the influence of operational conditions and experimental apparatus upon the outcomes of nanomedicine preparation using supercritical technology. Through this comprehensive review, we elucidate the implementation procedures and commonly employed models of diverse methodologies, juxtaposing the merits and demerits of these models. Furthermore, we assert the dependability of employing models to compute drug solubility in SCFs and simulate the experimental processes, with the capability to serve as valuable tools for aiding and optimizing experiments, as well as providing guidance in the selection of appropriate operational conditions. This, in turn, fosters innovative avenues for the development of supercritical pharmaceuticals.

Innovative Design Strategies Advance Biomedical Applications of Phthalocyanines

Owing to their long absorption wavelengths, high molar absorptivity, and tunable photosensitivity, phthalocyanines have been widely used in photodynamic therapy (PDT). However, phthalocyanines still face the drawbacks of poor targeting, "always-on" photosensitizing properties, and unsatisfactory therapeutic efficiency, which limit their wide applications in biomedical fields. Thus, new design strategies such as modification of targeting molecules, formation of nanoparticles, and activating photosensitizers are developed to improve the above defects. Notably, recent studies have shown that novel phthalocyanines are not only used in fluorescence imaging and PDT, but also in photoacoustic imaging, photothermal imaging, sonodynamic therapy, and photothermal therapy. This review focuses on recent design strategies, applications in biomedicine, and clinical development of phthalocyanines, providing ideas and references for the design and application of phthalocyanine, so as to promote their future transformation into clinical applications.

Advances in nanomedicines for lymphatic imaging and therapy

Lymph nodes play a pivotal role in tumor progression as key components of the lymphatic system. However, the unique physiological structure of lymph nodes has traditionally constrained the drug delivery efficiency. Excitingly, nanomedicines have shown tremendous advantages in lymph node-specific delivery, enabling distinct recognition and diagnosis of lymph nodes, and hence laying the foundation for efficient tumor therapies. In this review, we comprehensively discuss the key factors affecting the specific enrichment of nanomedicines in lymph nodes, and systematically summarize nanomedicines for precise lymph node drug delivery and therapeutic application, including the lymphatic diagnosis and treatment nanodrugs and lymph node specific imaging and identification system. Notably, we delve into the critical challenges and considerations currently facing lymphatic nanomedicines, and futher propose effective strategies to address these issues. This review encapsulates recent findings, clinical applications, and future prospects for designing effective nanocarriers for lymphatic system targeting, with potential implications for improving cancer treatment strategies.

PD-1 Inhibitors Combined with Antiangiogenic Therapy with or Without Transarterial Chemoembolization in the Treatment of Hepatocellular Carcinoma: A Propensity Matching Analysis

Background

At present, it is not known whether targeting plus immunotherapy combined with transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) can improve the efficacy of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). The aim of this retrospective experiment was to explore the difference in clinical efficacy between antiangiogenic drugs plus PD-1 inhibitors combined with and without TACE.

Methods

Clinical data of 145 patients with HCC who received anti-angiogenesis therapy plus PD-1 inhibitor combined with TACE (TACE-P-T) (n = 62) or anti-angiogenesis therapy combined with PD-1 inhibitor (P-T) (n = 83) in China from October 2018 to December 2022 were collected and reviewed. We used propensity matching (PSM) to create two groups with comparable baseline scores, compared their median survival time (mOS) and median progression-free survival time (mPFS), and performed subgroup analysis.

Results

Before PSM, the mOS and mPFS of patients were 20.3 and 5.0 months in the triple therapy group and 13.6 and 7.4 months in the control group, respectively. After PSM, the mOS and mPFS of patients were 19.7 and 6.6 months in the triple treatment group and 10.5 and 3.7 months in the control group, respectively. Therefore, the TACE-P-T group showed better survival outcomes than P-T. In the subgroup analysis, compared with the control group, the mOS was 10.7 vs 20.3 months in the alpha fetoprotein (AFP) (≥ 400ng/mL/<400ng/mL) group, 29.3 vs 7.4 months in the alkaline phosphatase (ALP) (≥ 125u/L/< 125u/L) group and 10.5 vs 20.0 months in the Portal vein invasion (PVTT) group.

Conclusion

Antiangiogenic therapy combined with PD-1 inhibitors combined with TACE has significant survival benefits for HCC patients.

An exploratory human study of superstable homogeneous lipiodol-indocyanine green formulation for precise surgical navigation in liver cancer

The clinical applications of transcatheter arterial embolization (TAE) conversion therapy combined with hepatectomy have been severely restricted by ill-defined tumoral boundaries and miniscule hidden lesions. Fluorescent surgical navigation is a promising method for overcoming these barriers. However, sufficient delivery of the fluorescent probe into the tumor region after long-term TAE is challenging due to blockade of the tumor-supplying artery. Here, a super-stable homogeneous intermix formulating technology (SHIFT) to physically mix lipiodol and indocyanine green (ICG) formulation (SHIFT and ICG) for fluorescent surgical navigation after long-term TAE conversion therapy is provided. Through the retrospective study of 45 clinical liver cancer patients, it is found that SHIFT and ICG formulation have excellent tumor deposition effect and safety. During surgical resection after long-term TAE conversion therapy, SHIFT and ICG could clearly identify in real time the full tumor regions and boundaries and had a high signal-to-normal tissues ratio-even the indistinguishable satellite lesions could be identified with a strong fluorescence intensity. Meanwhile, SHIFT and ICG could improve operative, anesthetic, and postoperative variables associated with postoperative complications. This simple and effective SHIFT could provide precise fluorescent navigation for surgical resection following long-term embolization therapy in clinical practice and has great potential for a translational pipeline.

Multifunctional nanoplatforms application in the transcatheter chemoembolization against hepatocellular carcinoma

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) has the sixth-highest new incidence and fourth-highest mortality worldwide. Transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) is one of the primary treatment strategies for unresectable HCC. However, the therapeutic effect is still unsatisfactory due to the insufficient distribution of antineoplastic drugs in tumor tissues and the worsened post-embolization tumor microenvironment (TME, e.g., hypoxia and reduced pH). Recently, using nanomaterials as a drug delivery platform for TACE therapy of HCC has been a research hotspot. With the development of nanotechnology, multifunctional nanoplatforms have been developed to embolize the tumor vasculature, creating conditions for improving the distribution and bioavailability of drugs in tumor tissues. Currently, the researchers are focusing on functionalizing nanomaterials to achieve high drug loading efficacy, thorough vascular embolization, tumor targeting, controlled sustained release of drugs, and real-time imaging in the TACE process to facilitate precise embolization and enable therapeutic procedures follow-up imaging of tumor lesions. Herein, we summarized the recent advances and applications of functionalized nanomaterials based on TACE against HCC, believing that developing these functionalized nanoplatforms may be a promising approach for improving the TACE therapeutic effect of HCC.

Biomimetic dual-responsive bioengineered nanotheranostics for intracellular cascade-synthesizing chemo-drugs and efficient oncotherapy

Intracellular-synthesized chemo-drugs based on the inherent characteristics of the tumor microenvironment (TME) have been extensively applied in oncotherapy. However, combining other therapeutic strategies to convert nontoxic small molecules into toxic small-molecule chemo-drugs in the TME is still a huge challenge. To address this issue, herein we have developed a biomimetic dual-responsive bioengineered nanotheranostics system via the supramolecular co-assembly of the nontoxic small-molecule 1,5-dihydroxynaphthalene (DHN) and small-molecule photosensitizer indocyanine green (ICG) followed by surface cloaking through red blood cell membranes (RBCs) for intracellular cascade-synthesizing chemo-drugs and efficient oncotherapy. Such nanotheranostics with a suitable diameter, core-shell structure, ultrahigh dual-drug payload rate, and excellent stability can efficiently accumulate in tumor regions and then internalize into tumor cells. Under the dual stimulations of near-infrared laser irradiation and acidic lysosomes, the nanotheranostics system exhibited exceptional instability under heat-primed membrane rupture and pH decrease, thereby achieving rapid disassembly and on-demand drug release. Furthermore, the released ICG can efficiently convert ³O₂ into ¹O₂. After that, the generated ¹O₂ can efficiently oxidize the released nontoxic DHN into the highly toxic chemo-drug juglone, thereby realizing intracellular cascade-synthesizing chemo-drugs and synergistic photodynamic-chemotherapy while reducing detrimental side effects on normal cells or tissues. Overall, it is envisioned that RBC-cloaked nanotheranostics with intracellular cascade-synthesizing chemo-drugs can provide a promising strategy for intracellular chemo-drug synthesis-based oncotherapy.

Superstable homogeneous lipiodol-ICG formulation: initial feasibility and first-in-human clinical application for ruptured hepatocellular carcinoma

The most common treatment of spontaneous tumor rupture hemorrhage (STRH) is transcatheter arterial embolization (TAE) followed by liver resection, and surgical navigation using near-infrared fluorescence is effective method for detecting hidden lesions and ill-defined tumor boundaries. However, due to the blockage of the tumor-supplying artery after effective TAE treatment, it is difficult to deliver sufficient fluorescent probes to the tumor region. In this study, we report on the successful application of superstable homogeneous intermixed formulation technology (SHIFT) in precise conversion hepatectomy for ruptured hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). A homogeneous lipiodol-ICG formulation obtained by SHIFT (SHIFT-ICG) was developed for clinical practice for STRH. A ruptured HCC patient received the combined protocol for embolization and fluorescence surgical navigation and exhibited excellent hemostatic effect. Lipiodol and ICG were both effectively deposited in the primary lesion, including a small metastatic lesion. In follow-up laparoscopic hepatectomy, SHIFT-ICG could clearly and precisely image the full tumor regions and boundaries in real time, and even indistinguishable satellite lesions still expressed a remarkable fluorescence intensity. In conclusion, the simple and green SHIFT-ICG formulation can be effectively used in emergency embolization hemostasis and later precise fluorescence navigation hepatectomy in patients with ruptured HCC bleeding and has high clinical application value.

Cell membrane-coated nanoparticles for the treatment of bacterial infection

Despite the enormous success of antibiotics in antimicrobial therapy, the rapid emergence of antibiotic resistance and the complexity of the bacterial infection microenvironment make traditional antibiotic therapy face critical challenges against resistant bacteria, antitoxin, and intracellular infections. Consequently, there is a critical need to design antimicrobial agents that target infection microenvironment and alleviate antibiotic resistance. Cell membrane-coated nanoparticles (CMCNPs) are biomimetic materials that can be obtained by wrapping the cell membrane vesicles directly onto the surface of the nanoparticles (NPs) through physical means. Incorporating the biological functions of cell membrane vesicles and the superior physicochemical properties of NPs, CMCNPs have shown great promise in recent years for targeting infections, neutralizing bacterial toxins, and designing bacterial infection vaccines. This review highlights topics where CMCNPs present great value in advancing the treatment of bacterial infections, including drug delivery, detoxification, and vaccination. Lastly, we discuss the future hurdles and prospects of translating this technique into clinical practice, providing a comprehensive review of the technological developments of CMCNPs in the treatment of bacterial infections. This article is categorized under: Therapeutic Approaches and Drug Discovery > Nanomedicine for Infectious Disease Therapeutic Approaches and Drug Discovery > Emerging Technologies Nanotechnology Approaches to Biology > Nanoscale Systems in Biology.

A clinical trial of super-stable homogeneous lipiodol-nanoICG formulation-guided precise fluorescent laparoscopic hepatocellular carcinoma resection

BACKGROUND

Applying traditional fluorescence navigation technologies in hepatocellular carcinoma is severely restricted by high false-positive rates, variable tumor differentiation, and unstable fluorescence performance.

RESULTS

In this study, a green, economical and safe nanomedicine formulation technology was developed to construct carrier-free indocyanine green nanoparticles (nanoICG) with a small uniform size and better fluorescent properties without any molecular structure changes compared to the ICG molecule. Subsequently, nanoICG dispersed into lipiodol via a super-stable homogeneous intermixed formulation technology (SHIFT&nanoICG) for transhepatic arterial embolization combined with fluorescent laparoscopic hepatectomy to eliminate the existing shortcomings. A 52-year-old liver cancer patient was recruited for the clinical trial of SHIFT&nanoICG. We demonstrate that SHIFT&nanoICG could accurately identify and mark the lesion with excellent stability, embolism, optical imaging performance, and higher tumor-to-normal tissue ratio, especially in the detection of the microsatellite lesions (0.4 × 0.3 cm), which could not be detected by preoperative imaging, to realize a complete resection of hepatocellular carcinoma under fluorescence laparoscopy in a shorter period (within 2 h) and with less intraoperative blood loss (50 mL).

CONCLUSIONS

This simple and effective strategy integrates the diagnosis and treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma, and thus, it has great potential in various clinical applications.

Metal Ion-Based Supramolecular Self-Assembly for Cancer Theranostics

Metal-ion-based self-assembly supramolecular theranostics exhibit excellent performance in biomedical applications owing to their potential superiorities for simultaneous precise diagnosis, targeted drug delivery, and monitoring the response to therapy in real-time. Specially, the rational designed systems could achieve specific in vivo self-assembly through complexation or ionic interaction to improve tissue-specific accumulation, penetration, and cell internalization, thereby reducing toxicities of drugs in diagnostics and therapy. Furthermore, such imaging traceable nanosystems could provide real-timely information of drug accumulation and therapeutic effects in a non-invasive and safe manner. Herein, the article highlights the recent prominent applications based on the metal ions self-assembly in cancer treatment. This strategy may open up new research directions to develop novel drug delivery systems for cancer theranostics.