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Peer-reviewedCC BYMolecules (Basel, Switzerland)

Recent Advances in Small-Molecule-Based Nanovectors for the Treatment of Colorectal Cancer

  • Cuthbert Wasswa Kibungu1,2
  • Nkoana Ishmael Mongalo3
  • Tshepiso Jan Makhafola2,4,5
5 affiliations
  1. 1Department of Health Sciences, Faculty of Health and Environmental Sciences, Central University of Technology, Bloemfontein 9301, Free State, South Africa
  2. 2Centre for Quality of Health and Living, Faculty of Health and Environmental Sciences, Central University of Technology, Bloemfontein 9301, Free State, South Africa
  3. 3College of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences Laboratories, University of South Africa, Private Bag X06, Florida 0610, Gauteng, South Africa
  4. 4Stellenbosch Institute for Advanced Study (STIAS), Wallenberg Research Centre at Stellenbosch University, Stellenbosch 7600, Western Cape, South Africa
  5. 5Hamburg Institute for Advanced Study (HIAS), Rothenbaumchaussee 45, 20148 Hamburg, Germany
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Abstract

Colorectal cancer (CRC) remains a major global health burden, while conventional systemic therapies are limited by toxicity, drug resistance, suboptimal tumour exposure, and pharmacokinetic constraints. Recent advances in nanotechnology have produced diverse nanosystems including liposomes, dendrimers, polymeric nanoparticles, metallic nanoparticles, mesoporous silica systems, and other hybrid platforms that can improve drug solubility, stability, biodistribution, controlled release, and tumour-directed delivery. Plant-derived small molecules provide an additional source of structurally diverse anticancer candidates, but their clinical development is often constrained by poor aqueous solubility, rapid metabolism, limited bioavailability, and non-specific toxicity. This review critically examines recent progress in nanoscale delivery systems for CRC and evaluates their potential for delivering plant-derived and other bioactive small molecules. Particular emphasis is placed on passive and active targeting, physicochemical determinants of delivery, platform-specific advantages and limitations, preclinical evidence, and the barriers to clinical translation. The review also highlights the distinction between plant-derived and fungal-derived natural products and identifies opportunities for integrating natural products with responsive and ligand-functionalized nanocarriers.

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Cite

BibTeXRIS
BibTeX
@article{kibungu2026recent,
  title = {{Recent Advances in Small-Molecule-Based Nanovectors for the Treatment of Colorectal Cancer}},
  author = {Cuthbert Wasswa Kibungu and Nkoana Ishmael Mongalo and Tshepiso Jan Makhafola},
  journal = {Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)},
  year = {2026},
  month = oct,
  doi = {10.3390/molecules31193534},
  url = {https://europepmc.org/article/PMC/PMC13667263},
  note = {CC BY},
}
RIS
TY  - JOUR
TI  - Recent Advances in Small-Molecule-Based Nanovectors for the Treatment of Colorectal Cancer
AU  - Cuthbert Wasswa Kibungu
AU  - Nkoana Ishmael Mongalo
AU  - Tshepiso Jan Makhafola
PY  - 2026
DA  - 2026/10/01
JO  - Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)
DO  - 10.3390/molecules31193534
UR  - https://europepmc.org/article/PMC/PMC13667263
AB  - Colorectal cancer (CRC) remains a major global health burden, while conventional systemic therapies are limited by toxicity, drug resistance, suboptimal tumour exposure, and pharmacokinetic constraints. Recent advances in nanotechnology have produced diverse nanosystems including liposomes, dendrimers, polymeric nanoparticles, metallic nanoparticles, mesoporous silica systems, and other hybrid platforms that can improve drug solubility, stability, biodistribution, controlled release, and tumour-directed delivery. Plant-derived small molecules provide an additional source of structurally diverse anticancer candidates, but their clinical development is often constrained by poor aqueous solubility, rapid metabolism, limited bioavailability, and non-specific toxicity. This review critically examines recent progress in nanoscale delivery systems for CRC and evaluates their potential for delivering plant-derived and other bioactive small molecules. Particular emphasis is placed on passive and active targeting, physicochemical determinants of delivery, platform-specific advantages and limitations, preclinical evidence, and the barriers to clinical translation. The review also highlights the distinction between plant-derived and fungal-derived natural products and identifies opportunities for integrating natural products with responsive and ligand-functionalized nanocarriers.
SN  - 1420-3049
ER  -