The π-π stacking-guided supramolecular self-assembly of nanomedicine for effective delivery of antineoplastic therapies.

In traditional nano drug-delivery systems, the complex chemical bonds between drug and carrier often complicate the preparation process and are less prone to rupture upon entry into the target, which is detrimental to the timely release of the drug. The pi-pi stacking provides us with a promising alternative as it is a weak interaction between the aromatic rings. Since most antitumor drugs are hydrophobic molecules with complex aromatic pi-pi-conjugated structures, the construction of self-assembly based on pi-pi stacking between drugs and carriers has the advantage of improving the stability and drug loading capacity as well as the improvement of hydrophilicity and biosafety. This article introduces the recent advances in pi-pi stacking-guided nano self-assembly for antineoplastic delivery.