Emerging theranostics to combat cancer: a perspective on metal-based nanomaterials

Abstract

Objective

Theranostics, encompassing diagnostics and therapeutics, has emerged as a critical component of cancer treatment. Metal-based theranostics is one such next-generation nanotechnology-based drug delivery system with a myriad of benefits in pre-clinical and clinical medication for the deadly diseases like cancer, where early detection can actually be life-saving.

Significance

Metal theranostics have shown promising outcomes in terms of anticancer medication monitoring, targeted drug delivery, and simultaneous detection and treatment of early-stage cancer.

Methods

For collection of literature data, different search engines including Google scholar, SciFinder, PubMed, ScienceDirect have been employed. With key words like, cancer, theranostics, metal nanoparticles relevant and appropriate data have been generated.

Results

Noninvasive administration of the active drug is made possible by theranostics nanoparticulate systems’ ability to aggregate at the tumor site and offer morphological and biochemical characteristics of the tumor site. The recent advancement of metal-based theranostics including metallic nanoparticles, metal oxides, metal sulfides, nanocomposites, etc. has been explored at length in this article.

Conclusion

The review highlights emerging applications in terms of molecular imaging, targeted therapy and different diagnostic approaches of metal theranostics. Possible challenges faced by nanotheranostics in terms of clinical immersion and toxicological aspects which need to be addressed at depth are also discussed at the end.

Keywords:

• Metal nanoparticles
• metal sulfides
• theranostics
• cancer
• toxicity

Acknowledgments

All the authors are thankful to the Department of Pharmaceuticals, Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilizers, Govt. of India, and also to the Director of National Institute of Pharmaceutical Education and Research, Ahmedabad (NIPER-A) for the support.

Author contributions

Tejas Girish Agnihotri and Shyam Sudhakar Gomte: Literature review, writing and editing the draft, figures, and table drawing. Aakanchha Jain: Conceptualization, supervision, proof reading, and administration.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).