Emerging pyroptosis-engineered nanobiotechnologies regulate cancers and inflammatory diseases: A double-edged sword

•We systematically describe the extensively accepted pyroptosis pathways •We summarize the advances and rationales of nanotechnologies in regulating pyroptosis •We expound on how/why lesion microenvironment engineering can regulate pyroptosis •We provide distinctive insights into the pyroptosis-engineered nanotechnologies Pyroptosis is closely associated with tumors and inflammatory diseases. By enhancing pyroptosis, direct and immune-response-triggered deaths of tumor cells are increased, while, by inhibiting pyroptosis, the progression of inflammatory diseases is alleviated. Nanomaterials and nanobiotechnologies are receiving increasing attention because of their unique advantages and diverse strategies, which hold great potential in treating pyroptosis-related diseases. In this review, we firstly describe the extensively accepted pyroptosis pathways and summarize pyroptosis inducers and inhibitors that may pose safety concerns. Subsequently, the advances and rationales of nanobiotechnology and therapeutic approaches in regulating pyroptosis for treating cancer and inflammation-associated diseases are summarized, where the activation or blockade of different pyroptosis pathways are highlighted and the correlation between pyroptosis and immunity is stressed. Also, we expound on how and why some abnormal components present in lesion microenvironment could be engineered after rationally different nanoplatforms. Finally, we provide distinctive insights into the pyroptosis-engineered nanobiotechnologies in tumor and inflammation disease treatments. Pyroptosis is closely associated with tumors and inflammatory diseases. By enhancing pyroptosis, direct and immune-response-triggered deaths of tumor cells are increased, while, by inhibiting pyroptosis, the progression of inflammatory diseases is alleviated. Nanomaterials and nanobiotechnologies are receiving increasing attention because of their unique advantages and diverse strategies, which hold great potential in treating pyroptosis-related diseases. In this review, we firstly describe the extensively accepted pyroptosis pathways and summarize pyroptosis inducers and inhibitors that may pose safety concerns. Subsequently, the advances and rationales of nanobiotechnology and therapeutic approaches in regulating pyroptosis for treating cancer and inflammation-associated diseases are summarized, where the activation or blockade of different pyroptosis pathways are highlighted and the correlation between pyroptosis and immunity is stressed. Also, we expound on how and why some abnormal components present in lesion microenvironment could be engineered after rationally different nanoplatforms. Finally, we provide distinctive insights into the pyroptosis-engineered nanobiotechnologies in tumor and inflammation disease treatments. Graphical Abstract View Large Image Figure Viewer Download Hi-res image