Mendes, Bárbara B.Sousa, Diana P.Conniot, JoãoConde, JoãoConde, João2023-06-212023-06-212021-092405-8033PURE: 33428173PURE UUID: e1bd4218-c0c2-44c0-adce-b33348d96120Scopus: 85110014003PubMed: 34090865WOS: 000686370700005http://hdl.handle.net/10362/154245Funding Information: The authors acknowledge financial support from Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia / Ministério da Ciência, Tecnologia, e Ensino Superior in the framework of PhD grant 2020.06638.BD (to D.P.S.), and from the European Research Council grant agreement No 848325 (J.C. for the ERC Starting Grant). Funding Information: The authors acknowledge financial support from Funda??o para a Ci?ncia e a Tecnologia/ Minist?rio da Ci?ncia, Tecnologia, e Ensino Superior in the framework of PhD grant 2020.06638.BD (to D.P.S.), and from the European Research Council grant agreement No 848325 (J.C. for the ERC Starting Grant). None declared by authors. Publisher Copyright: © 2021 Elsevier Inc.The interest in nanomedicine for cancer theranostics has grown significantly over the past few decades. However, these nanomedicines need to overcome several physiological barriers intrinsic to the tumor microenvironment (TME) before reaching their target. Intrinsic tumor genetic/phenotypic variations, along with intratumor heterogeneity, provide different cues to each cancer type, making each patient with cancer unique. This brings additional challenges in translating nanotechnology-based systems into clinically reliable therapies. To develop efficient therapeutic strategies, it is important to understand the dynamic interactions between TME players and the complex mechanisms involved, because they constitute invaluable targets to dismantle tumor progression. In this review, we discuss the latest nanotechnology-based strategies for cancer diagnosis and therapy as well as the potential targets for the design of future anticancer nanomedicines.161545091engmodulationnanotechnologytargeting, therapytumor microenvironmentOncologyCancer ResearchSDG 3 - Good Health and Well-beingreview10.1016/j.trecan.2021.05.001https://www.scopus.com/pages/publications/85110014003