ABSTRACT
Anti-tumor antibiotics exhibit great application potential in the anti-tumor therapy. Some drugs have become the first-line medication clinically. However, there are always various problems associated with anti-tumor antibiotics, such as poor solubility and instability as well as severe systemic side effects. It is important to choose suitable delivery carriers for a reasonable delivery system for a good targeting ability, enhanced anti-tumor efficacy and reduced adverse effects of the anti-tumor antibiotics, especially in the smart delivery systems. This review summarizes the carriers and the advances in the delivery systems of anti-tumor antibiotics, including anti-tumor antibiotic drugs currently on the market, in the clinical research stage and in the basic research stage.