Self-assembled nanomaterials for synergistic antitumour therapy

Self-assembly is a bottom-up strategy that can be used to construct a wide range of nanostructures. This review discusses the applications of self-assembled nanomaterials in the field of antitumour therapy. A variety of materials have been developed, such as nanomaterials self-assembled from polymers, biomacromolecules, proteins, peptides, inorganic materials, nucleic acids, and organic molecules, among others, and their applications include phototherapy, chemotherapy, gene therapy, imaging, immunotherapy and other fields. These therapeutic methods can combine with each other as synergistic therapy. Here, we review the progress of self-assembled anticancer nanomaterials applied to target tumours, decrease drug resistance, cross the blood–brain barrier to treat metastases, and perform other tasks. Additional challenges to be overcome in this field are also discussed.