Protein Nanocarriers: Targeted Theranostics for Cancer Treatment and Imaging.

Area of Science:

• Biomaterials Science
• Nanotechnology
• Oncology

Background:

• Protein-based nanocarriers are increasingly recognized for cancer theranostics.
• Their biocompatibility, biodegradability, and functionalization potential are key advantages.
• Unique properties like self-assembly and low immunogenicity suit oncology.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review recent advancements in targeted protein-based nanocarriers for cancer theranostics.
• To emphasize receptor-specific targeting, imaging integration, and preclinical models.
• To provide insights into future directions for protein nanocarriers in cancer therapy.

Main Methods:

• Literature review of recent studies on protein-based nanocarriers.
• Focus on albumin, lipoproteins, ferritin, viral protein capsids, fibrin, and silk proteins.
• Analysis of targeting mechanisms, imaging modalities, and preclinical models.

Main Results:

• Summarized advances in various protein nanocarrier types.
• Detailed receptor-specific targeting strategies and imaging integrations.
• Highlighted the importance of advanced preclinical models for translation.

Conclusions:

• Protein-based nanocarriers show significant promise for targeted cancer theranostics.
• Further research into advanced preclinical models is crucial for clinical translation.
• Future directions involve optimizing targeting and imaging for enhanced oncology applications.