Abstract
Cancer remains a worldwide problem, and new treatment strategies are being actively developed. Peptides have the characteristics of good biocompatibility, strong targeting, functional diversity, modifiability, membrane permeable ability, and low immunogenicity, and they have been widely used to construct targeted drug delivery systems (DDSs). In addition, peptides, as endogenous substances, have a high affinity, which can not only regulate immune cells but also work synergistically with drugs to kill tumor cells, demonstrating significant potential for application. In this review, the latest progress of polypeptides-based nanocarriers in tumor therapy has been outlined, focusing on their applications in killing tumor cells and regulating immune cells. Additionally, peptides as carriers were found to primarily provide a transport function, which was also a subject of interest to us. At the end of the paper, the shortcomings in the construction of peptide nano-delivery system have been summarized, and possible solutions are proposed therein. The application of peptides provides a promising outlook for cancer treatment, and we hope this article can provide in-depth insights into possible future avenues of exploration.