Microsatellite-stable colorectal cancer, which accounts for roughly 80–85% of cases, remains largely refractory to immune checkpoint inhibitors compared with microsatellite instability-high tumors. This review synthesizes current evidence on tumor-intrinsic and microenvironmental mechanisms underlying immune checkpoint inhibitor resistance in microsatellite-stable colorectal cancer—including low neoantigen burden and impaired antigen presentation, activation of Wnt/β-catenin and MAPK signaling that exclude T cells, an immunosuppressive cellular milieu (regulatory T cells, myeloid-derived suppressor cells, M2-like tumor-associated macrophages, cancer-associated fibroblasts), metabolic reprogramming, and gut microbiome dysbiosis—and evaluates translational strategies aimed at overcoming these barriers. Preclinical and early-phase clinical data indicate that rational, mechanism-guided combinations (vascular normalization, myeloid reprogramming, metabolic inhibitors, antigen-priming approaches, and microbiome modulation) can enhance immune infiltration and produce benefits in biomarker-defined subgroups. Moving the field forward will require biomarker-driven, adaptive clinical trials with embedded translational endpoints to optimize patient selection and manage toxicity.

Chiral nanomaterials have great potential for enhancing clinical therapeutic efficacy, attributed to the distinctive chiral selectivity in biosystems. Herein, we designed chiral iron single-atom nanoenzymes (L/D-Cys@SAFe/NC) that exhibit remarkable tumor microenvironment-triggered catalytic therapeutic activity, by simultaneously depleting GSH and generating potent reactive oxygen species in cancer cells. Under laser irradiation, they displays photothermal-enhanced catalytic activities. The study of L/D-Cys@SAFe/NC on cancer cells shows that D-Cys@SAFe/NC exhibits stronger cytotoxicity than L-Cys@SAFe/NC due to the stronger internalization ability, also supported by the higher efficiency of cancer therapy of D-Cys@SAFe/NC in vivo. This research demonstrates that the chirality of the surface ligand of the nanomaterials could exert a substantial impact on their efficacy in treating cancer, which opens a novel way for the advancement of anticancer nanomedicine

Researchers from Wuhan University of Technology have developed a laser-stepwise-induced graphene (LSIG) method that significantly lowers sheet resistance to just 15 Ω sq^-1. By combining focused and defocused laser pulses, this technique reduces structural defects and improves crystallinity in laser-induced graphene, enabling advanced applications in electromagnetic shielding and infrared stealth.

Researchers have developed a magnetic, transferrin-modified liposomal delivery system (HM@MNLs-Tf) to improve the brain-targeted therapy of glioblastoma using harmine, a plant-derived anti-cancer compound. By leveraging transferrin receptor-mediated targeting and an external magnetic field, the system efficiently crosses the blood-brain barrier, selectively delivers harmine to glioma cells, and minimizes neurotoxic side effects. In preclinical studies, HM@MNLs-Tf demonstrated enhanced tumor accumulation, significant inhibition of tumor growth, and reduced central nervous system toxicity, offering a promising strategy for precise and safe glioblastoma treatment.

CAR-T therapy for solid tumors faces challenges including immune evasion, suppressive microenvironment, and off-target toxicity. Nanotechnology—especially mRNA-loaded lipid nanoparticles (LNPs), hydrogels, and photothermal/acoustogenetic modulation—offers solutions. mRNA enables transient, safe CAR expression. LNPs can be engineered for targeted delivery. Preclinical ovarian cancer studies show promise (e.g., nfP2X7 CAR-T, multifunctional nanoparticles). This review highlights how nanotechnology enhances CAR-T safety, precision, and efficacy.

Malignant cutaneous melanoma is the most invasive and metastatic type of skin cancer. Surgical resection, the conventional treatment for it, is associated with two major issues: incomplete tumor removal, which easily leads to recurrence, and poor healing of large postoperative wounds. Additionally, acral lentiginous melanoma (ALM) is a common subtype of this cancer. The existing bulky dressings used for ALM are prone to falling off during joint movement, significantly compromising the therapeutic effect. To address these problems, we have developed a nanocomposite hydrogel wound patch (M_xNd/yCe@M SAC). By adopting a cascaded sequential therapy strategy, this patch is specifically designed to solve the key challenges of high recurrence rate and poor wound healing after melanoma surgery.

Electrochemical CO₂ reduction (CO₂RR) to formate offers a sustainable pathway for carbon utilization under mild conditions. However, its practical application is hindered by the high energy consumption of the anodic oxygen evolution reaction (OER). Replacing OER with the methanol oxidation reaction (MOR) enables simultaneous formate production at both electrodes and significantly lowers the overall energy input. Recently, the research group of Professor Junfeng Xie at Shandong Normal University has developed a two-electrode system featuring a crystalline/amorphous Bi-BiNiO_x/NF cathode and a β-Ni(OH)₂ anode for efficient formate synthesis.

A research team from China has developed a tuning strategy to enhance the conventional chiral seeded growth method. By incorporating a pre-incubation step involving seeds and chiral ligands, the team aimed to control the initial symmetry breaking by modulating their interactions. Under optimized incubation conditions, chiral plasmonic nanorods (CPNRs) exhibiting high chiroptical responses were successfully synthesized. These resulting CPNRs were used to explore the enhancement mechanism of silver ions in the plasmon-mediated oxidative coupling reaction of 4-aminothiophenol.  

A review in the Chinese Journal of Natural Medicines examines how natural products can improve the in vivo fate of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs), with potential benefits for cell homing, survival, differentiation, and immunoregulatory function in regenerative medicine and disease treatment.