Cancer drug resistance has become one of the main challenges for the failure of chemotherapy, greatly limiting the selection and use of anticancer drugs and dashing the hopes of cancer patients. The emergence of supramolecular host-guest nanosystems has brought the field of supramolecular chemistry into the nanoworld, providing a potential solution to this challenge. Compared with conventional chemotherapeutic platforms, supramolecular host-guest nanosystems can reverse cancer drug resistance by increasing drug uptake, reducing drug efflux, activating drugs, and inhibiting DNA repair. Herein, we summarize the research progress of supramolecular host-guest nanosystems for overcoming cancer drug resistance and discuss the future research direction in this field. It is hoped that this review will provide more positive references for overcoming cancer drug resistance and promoting the development of supramolecular host-guest nanosystems.

This book outlines the use of supramolecules as different pharmaceutical drugs. Supramolecular chemistry in pharmaceutical sciences is quite a young and rapidly developing field. Supramolecular assemblies might offer an alternative for existing pharmaceutical formulations, as they facilitate the improvement of physicochemical and pharmacological properties i.e., higher bioavailability, better biocompatibility and drug-targeting, fewer multidrug-resistances. This book offers an overview of the recent advances in supramolecular structures and discusses the future aspects and challenges related to the development of these molecules, providing also a perspective on how to overcome these issues. Divided into 13 chapters contributed by experts in their field, the book provides a deeper understanding of intermolecular forces playing pivotal roles in mediating the interactions between chemical molecules and biological systems by focusing on different applications of supramolecular compounds. In this book, readers will find valuable insights into the preparation of supramolecules and the latest research and development trends of supramolecules as anticancer drugs, including liquid-crystalline supramolecular assemblies, and as antimicrobial, antiviral, anti-inflammatory and cardiovascular drugs. Particular attention is given to the application of supramolecules in the fields of biomedicine, bioimaging, and vaccine development. Given its breadth, this book will appeal to a wide readership from researchers and students interested in these fields to professionals in the pharma industry.