To improve the targeting of cancer drug carriers, 3-aminophenylboronic acid and disulfide are used to modify both the natural materials cellulose nanofiber and plant-derived nucleic acids. 3-aminophenylboronic acid can bind to sialic acid-overexpressed cancer cells and glutathione in cancer cells can break the disulfide bonds to release drugs. Chemotherapeutic drugs are encapsulated under a water-in-oil emulsification process. These hybrid nanogels are negatively charged spherical structures with particle sizes between 100 and 150 nanometers. High concentrations (2 mg/mL) of nanogels have low toxicity to normal cells. The 3-aminophenylboronic acid-modified nanogels induce more cancer cell death and are better targets than disulfide-modified ones. The nanogels with 3-aminophenylboronic acid modification can enhance cellular uptake and to be stained fluorescently by nucleic stains. This study provides an alternative approach to targeted drug carriers in cancer therapy.