Hybrid Nanocarriers for Cancer Therapy: Advancements in Co-Delivery of Gene Therapy and Immunotherapy
Berikkhanova K. Inuwa I. Jibo A.G. Berikkhanov N. Bikhanov N. Sultan Y. Omarbekov A.
January 2026Multidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute (MDPI)
International Journal of Molecular Sciences
2026#27Issue 1
Over the years, cancer has continued to be a leading global health threat, prompting researchers to explore advanced therapies that go beyond traditional treatments like chemotherapy and radiotherapy. Among these advanced therapies, gene therapy and immunotherapy have shown significant promise in treating cancer by either altering genetic makeup or stimulating the immune system. However, their clinical applications face significant obstacles such as poor drug delivery, rapid degradation, and immune system clearance. Hybrid nanocarriers have emerged as a transformative development in modern precision oncology, enabling the co-delivery of gene therapy and immunotherapy agents in a highly targeted manner to address the persistent limitations of traditional cancer treatments. This review focuses on hybrid nanocarrier systems specifically engineered for co-delivery applications and critically evaluates when and how these multifunctional platforms outperform conventional single-modality or non-hybrid formulations. We compare key hybrid architectures in terms of payload compatibility, pharmacokinetics, immune modulation, and translational readiness, and examine the influence of tumor microenvironmental characteristics on their therapeutic performance. Particular emphasis is placed on stimuli-responsive designs, biomimetic surface engineering, and artificial intelligence–assisted optimization as emerging strategies to enhance co-delivery efficacy. By synthesizing current evidence and identifying key scientific and manufacturing gaps, this review aims to provide a practical foundation for advancing hybrid nanocarriers from laboratory development to clinically meaningful, personalized cancer therapies.
cancer , gene therapy , hybrid nanocarriers , immunotherapy , precision oncology
Text of the article Перейти на текст статьи
National Laboratory Astana, Nazarbayev University, Astana, 010000, Kazakhstan
University Medical Center, Nazarbayev University, Astana, 010000, Kazakhstan
Scientific and Educational Center of Surgery, Astana Medical University, Astana, 010000, Kazakhstan
School of Medicine, Nazarbayev University, Astana, 010000, Kazakhstan
Department of Industrial Pharmacy, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, 10330, Thailand
Center of Surgery, City Polyclinic № 2, Taraz, 080000, Kazakhstan
Medical Center LLP “Sultan-Medicus”, Almaty, 050000, Kazakhstan
National Laboratory Astana
University Medical Center
Scientific and Educational Center of Surgery
School of Medicine
Department of Industrial Pharmacy
Center of Surgery
Medical Center LLP “Sultan-Medicus”
10 лет помогаем публиковать статьи Международный издатель
Книга Публикация научной статьи Волощук 2026 Book Publication of a scientific article 2026