Metal nanoparticles: a theranostic nanotool against cancer

Area of Science:

• Oncology
• Nanotechnology
• Materials Science

Background:

• Conventional cancer therapies present significant limitations and side effects.
• There is a critical need for innovative and more effective anticancer strategies.
• Theranostics, integrating diagnosis with targeted therapy, is an emerging field.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore the potential of metal nanoparticles as theranostic agents for cancer treatment.
• To highlight the dual role of metal nanoparticles in cancer diagnosis and therapy.
• To review various metals with anticancer potential in nanoparticle form.

Main Methods:

• Review of existing literature on metal nanoparticles in cancer theranostics.
• Analysis of the inherent and surface-modified properties of metal nanoparticles for anticancer activity.
• Examination of the diagnostic and therapeutic applications of functionalized metal nanoparticles.

Main Results:

• Metal nanoparticles, including iron, gold (Au), silver (Ag), zinc (Zn), and titanium, demonstrate significant potential as anticancer agents.
• Surface modifications can enhance the inherent anticancer efficacy of these nanoparticles.
• Metal nanoparticles effectively function as dual-action agents for both cancer diagnosis and therapy.

Conclusions:

• Metal nanoparticles represent a highly promising platform for advancing cancer theranostics.
• Their ability to combine diagnostic and therapeutic functions offers a significant advantage over conventional treatments.
• Further research into metal nanoparticle-based theranostics could lead to improved cancer patient outcomes.