Smart Surface Engineering in Microcarriers: Towards Applications in Cancer Therapy

Despite significant advances in cancer treatment, several challenges persist in optimizing effective cargo delivery, including enhancing bioavailability, improving targeted delivery, and overcoming biological barriers for improved tumor tissue penetration. There is an urgent need for versatile carriers capable of dual or multi-functional targeting within a single system without compromising functionality. Here, we present a microcarrier employing a dual surface modification strategy to enhance therapeutic efficacy through controlled, site-specific drug release. This functionalized microcarrier (potential microrobotic platform) integrates two distinct pH-sensitive polymeric nanoreservoirs with different membrane permeability. One nanoreservoir is engineered to release the antitumor agent curcumin in response to the acidic tumor microenvironment, while the second is designed to degrade the tumor extracellular matrix via enzymatic activity, facilitating deeper penetration of therapeutic agents. This dual surface modification approach represents a significant advancement in the customizable integration of multifunctional nanoreservoirs. By leveraging dual compartmentalization, it prevents deactivation and cross-process interference, enabling precise nanoscale combination therapies for microrobotic cancer treatment. These surface-engineered microrobots hold promise for overcoming physiological barriers, ensuring stable cargo transport, and broadening the applicability of microrobotic platforms across diverse cancer types.