Tumor associated macrophage (TAM) accounts for about 50% of the tumor mass. As an important part of the tumor microenvironment, TAM can promote tumor growth and metastasis. As a novel therapeutic target, TAM enables nanodrugs to achieve appropriate intratumoral biodistribution so as to effectively restrain the growth of tumor. This review summarized the characteristics and advantages of TAM that are related to the preferential capture of nanocarriers in the process of drug delivery, and illustrated the application of TAM as a therapeutic target, pointing out that macrophage-mediated delivery of nanodrugs as a potential strategy for oncotherapy in the future.