Frontiers in pharmacology
Carrier-free self-assembled nanodrugs in cancer therapy: a systematic scoping review and evidence map of molecular architecture, drug resistance, and translation-relevant reporting
By Wang Y, Ma L, Hu J and 3 others.
Abstract
Background
Carrier-free self-assembled nanodrugs use therapeutic or bioactive molecules as principal structural components. Their architectures have diversified rapidly, but how molecular design relates to resistance evidence and further development remains unclear.
Objective
To map molecular architecture, drug-resistance evidence, and translation-relevant reporting in carrier-free anticancer nanodrugs.
Methods
We conducted a PRISMA-ScR systematic scoping review and evidence map integrated with bibliometric analysis and structured appraisal of key resistance studies. PubMed, Europe PMC, Scopus, and Web of Science Core Collection (WoSCC) were searched in August 2026. WoSCC records (n = 863) characterized publication and intellectual structure, Scopus records (n = 840) assessed coverage, and 526 eligible articles formed the evidence map. Architecture was classified in 481 original studies, resistance evidence in 160 records, and 19 translation-relevant domains in 147 full-text studies. All 43 Tier 1/2 studies underwent full-report appraisal.