Carbon nanomaterials as versatile platforms for theranostic applications

Theranostic nanomedicine, utilizing state-of-the-art, multifaceted nanomaterials and devices with therapeutic and diagnostic dual functions, has emerged as a highly attractive and promising new field of medicine. The theory behind the use of nanomaterials for theranostic applications is to impart multifunctionality by applying various engineering strategies to combine different modalities on a nanoscale. Carbon nanomaterials, which have been a subject of intense scientific research and industrial applications in recent years, have also found their way into theranostic nanomedicine owing to their innate multifunctionality. In this review, we outline recent research progress and trends in utilizing various types of carbon nanomaterial for theranostic applications.