Abstract: Colorectal cancer (CRC) is a common malignancy that remains difficult to control with surgery, chemotherapy, radiotherapy, and targeted therapy. These challenges arise from tumor heterogeneity, therapy resistance, and frequent relapse or metastasis, especially in advanced disease. In addition, precision approaches are limited by interpatient variability, evolving targets, and suboptimal biomarker performance. Nanodynamic therapy (NDT) is a modular, energy-activated strategy (e.g. PDT, SDT, CDT, and EDT). It can be systematically engineered using a “Structure–Energy Conversion–Reaction Dynamics” framework that links nanoplatform architecture to stimulus-transduction efficiency and spatiotemporally controlled cytotoxic reactions. NDT converts externally applied light, ultrasound, or electric fields into localized oxidative or catalytic cytotoxicity, potentially reducing off-target injury. This approach is particularly relevant to CRC because intracavitary or endoluminal energy delivery enables precise spatiotemporal control that is difficult to achieve with systemic targeting alone. However, NDT alone rarely addresses the full complexity of the heterogeneous, immunosuppressive CRC microenvironment. Efficacy is often limited by hypoxia, immunologically “cold” tumors, and suboptimal synchronization of treatment timing and delivery. These constraints motivate rational combinations with immunotherapy and microenvironment-targeted interventions. In this review, we summarize organ-specific design principles for CRC-focused NDT. Guided by the Structure–Energy Conversion–Reaction Dynamics paradigm, we describe how nanostructure design (e.g. composition, morphology, and interfaces) governs energy deposition and conversion. We then explain how these processes shape ROS/catalytic kinetics and diffusion, and how the resulting dynamics can be tuned for CRC-relevant activation routes. We further discuss how programmable, locally activated modules can be integrated into synergistic regimens that couple tumor debulking and immunogenic cell death with durable immune programming. We also highlight localized hydrogel- or depot-based “logistics layers” that maintain high drug concentrations at resection margins or intraperitoneal sites. These platforms enable repeated external triggering and coordinated multiagent release, helping to overcome systemic co-delivery barriers. Finally, we outline translational priorities, including patient stratification and biomarkers, clinically compatible energy delivery, manufacturability, and tumor access constraints. These considerations may guide the development of CRC-ready NDT platforms toward prospective validation. Keywords: immunotherapy, colorectal cancer, multimodal synergistic therapy, nanodynamic therapy, nanomedicine, tumor microenvironment
Wang et al. (Sun,) studied this question.