Recent progress in gold-derived nanomaterials for tumor theranostics.

Area of Science:

• Biomedicine
• Nanotechnology
• Oncology

Background:

• Gold-based nanomaterials are extensively researched for biomedical applications, particularly in cancer diagnosis and treatment.
• Despite their promise, the precise mechanisms driving the enhanced efficacy of gold nanomaterials in oncology remain incompletely understood.
• A comprehensive summary of current progress is crucial for the rational design of advanced nanodevices.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review recent advancements in gold-based materials for cancer diagnosis and treatment.
• To elucidate the mechanisms of gold nanoparticles in various therapeutic and diagnostic modalities.
• To analyze factors contributing to the enhanced performance of gold nanomaterials and guide future nanomedicine design.

Main Methods:

• Review of recent scientific literature on gold-based nanomaterials in biomedicine.
• Illustration of mechanisms for gold nanoparticles in photothermal therapy, photodynamic therapy, sonodynamic therapy, photoacoustic tomography, fluorescence imaging, and X-ray computed tomography.
• Analysis of factors influencing the efficacy of gold nanomaterials in cancer applications.

Main Results:

• Gold nanoparticles demonstrate broad applications in cancer diagnosis and therapy through diverse mechanisms.
• Key therapeutic and diagnostic modalities include photothermal, photodynamic, and sonodynamic therapies, alongside imaging techniques like photoacoustic tomography, fluorescence imaging, and X-ray computed tomography.
• Factors contributing to enhanced performance have been identified, aiding in the evaluation of nanomaterial efficacy.

Conclusions:

• Understanding the mechanisms of gold nanoparticles is essential for optimizing their use in cancer therapy and diagnosis.
• This review provides insights into the rational design of high-performance gold-based nanomedicines.
• Future directions for advancing gold-based biomedicine are outlined, addressing current challenges and opportunities.