Nano-Reagents in Acute Pancreatitis: Diagnostic, Therapeutic, and Theranostic Advances

This narrative review synthesizes the latest advances in nano-diagnostic and therapeutic reagents for acute pancreatitis (AP), based on peer-reviewed experimental and preclinical studies published in recent years. AP endangers life through self-digestion of pancreatic tissue and a cascading systemic inflammatory reaction. In clinical practice, the existing diagnostic and therapeutic tools are limited by low sensitivity and insufficient targeting, so it is difficult to achieve the ideal diagnosis and treatment effect of AP. However, the emerging nanotechnology is expected to overcome these drawbacks by offering highly specific delivery systems and ultrasensitive detection platforms. The studies included in this review are directly related to nanomedicine diagnosis, treatment, and diagnosis and treatment of AP, and are categorized by their functional implementation pathways to emphasize technological translational potential. For diagnosis, nano-sensors (optical, electrochemical) and contrast agents (MRI-responsive nanoparticles) enable early detection of biomarkers and precise imaging of pancreatic lesions. For treatment, nano-reagents address barriers like the blood-pancreatic barrier, low drug specificity, and insufficient intervention in the pathogenesis through multi-faceted strategies: targeted delivery systems, microenvironment-responsive release, and biological pathway regulation. Theranostic nano-reagents integrating diagnosis and therapy show promise for real-time monitoring and intervention. In the end, it emphasizes the need for further optimization of biocompatibility and clinical validation and provides insights for clinical strategy design.