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selective drug delivery to cancer cells and increased accumulation and penetration at
tumor sites. The study also demonstrated that iRGD functionalization improved cellular
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uptake and cytotoxicity (Figure 5C). Meanwhile, Wei et al. utilized microfluidics to
synthesize a novel core–shell hybrid nanoparticle with an siRNA core, which was
shown to exhibit strong siRNA protection and loading capacity, improved in vivo
stability and biosafety, as well as effective antitumor efficacy (Figure 5D).
Balachandran et al. 106 developed an integrated microfluidic chip to
synthesize aptamer-modified biozeolitic imidazolate frameworks (BioZIF-
8) for targeting lymph nodes and tumors (Figure 5E). Yan et al. 107 fabricated
a pH/redox-triggered mesoporous silica nanoparticle (MSN) nanoplatform for the co-
delivery of doxorubicin/paclitaxel (DOX/PTX) (Figure 5F). Microfluidics also shows
significant potential in tumor immunotherapy. Han et al. 108 used commercial devices
(Dolomite) for fluoroconjugation of EGCG-ligand-siTOX nanoparticles to regulate
tumor cells and exhausted T cells synergistically. Moreover, 3D-printed microfluidic
devices show significant promise for advancing drug delivery across the blood-brain
barrier. Therefore, by integrating advanced microfluidic platforms for precision
nanoparticle synthesis with conventional antitumor drugs, the resulting hybrid drug
delivery systems can significantly enhance therapeutic efficacy and targeting specificity.
This synergistic approach leverages the tunability of nanocarriers and the proven
mechanisms of chemotherapeutic agents, offering a promising strategy to improve
cancer treatment outcomes.
Similarly, the integration of 3D printing and microfluidic technologies has led to
the development of microfluidic 3D-printed scaffolds, a groundbreaking strategy for
addressing post-operative tumor recurrence and facilitating tissue regeneration. A
notable example is the work by Zhang et al. 109 , who designed a light-responsive
platinum (IV) (Pt(IV)) prodrug-loaded scaffold using a microfluidic-assisted 3D
printing approach. The scaffold, composed of polymerized gelatin methacryloyl
(GelMA) (Pt-GelMA), exploits the photoconversion of low-toxicity Pt (IV) to highly
cytotoxic Pt (II) species upon irradiation, enabling localized and controlled drug release.
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