Application of organic frame materials in cancer therapy through regulation of tumor microenvironment

Abstract

During tumorigenesis and cancer progression, tumor microenvironment (TME) is continuously remodeled and a high intertumoral heterogeneity emerges due to hypoxia, oxidative stress and acidosis, etc., Recently, modulation of TME has received increasing attention for improving cancer therapy, which can solve some critical therapeutic problems such as unsatisfactory therapeutic efficiency and severe side effects. In recent years, organic framework materials (OFMs) have been designed to significantly improve cancer therapy by modulating TME, benefited from their well-organized structure, high porosity, abundant active sites, and easy post-synthetic modification. In this review, we mainly summarize the key points for fabricating OFMs with potential applications in cancer therapy, the strategies of regulating TME based on the OFMs, including the regulation of temperature, reactive oxygen species (ROS), glutathione (GSH), immune environment, gas content, and glucose concentration. The changes of TME caused by these OFMs could improve the therapeutic effect and minimize the side effects. Lastly, the existing problems and prospects of OFMs in regulating TME and improving cancer therapy are also discussed.