Fig. 2

Application examples of active targeting strategy based on nanocarriers in TACE treatment of HCC. ① iRGD-modified nano-formulation target integrin improves the tissue distribution of the drug and its antitumor efficacy [57]. ② Delivery of miR-375 by hollow NPs inhibits P-glycoprotein (P-gp) expression and overcomes multiple drug resistance in HCC [95]. ③ Hyaluronic acid (HA)-based nanocarriers improve the cellular internalization of chemotherapeutics and anticancer activities via targeting CD44 receptor-mediated endocytosis [96]. ④ Hydroxyapatite NPs (nHAP) serve as gene vectors to elevate and synergize the therapeutic efficacy of TAE and target gene therapy [64]. ⑤ Application of TACE combined with targeted NPs delivery of sorafenib (SFB-NPs) system recognizes and antagonizes VEGF specifically in treating HCC with microvascular invasion [97]. The figure has been created using Biorender