Luminescent nanocarriers for simultaneous drug or gene delivery and imaging tracking

Quercetin-Loaded Luminescent Hydroxyapatite Nanoparticles for Theranostic Application in Monolayer and Spheroid Cultures of Cervical Cancer Cell Line In Vitro

“…Based on luminescence, probing of the therapy can be achieved through the usage of quantum dots, carbon nanomaterials, upconversion nanoparticles, metal nanoclusters, and incorporation of fluorescent dyes. 11,12 Out of these, metal nanoclusters are a new class of emerging fluorophores having a size closely approaching to Fermi wavelength of electrons and possess discrete energy levels. Among nanoclusters, copper nanoclusters (CuNCs) have attained substantial attention due to their size-tunable luminescent emission between near UV to near-infrared region, water solubility, high photoluminescence, and negligible renal retention.…”

“…These inherent nanoscale properties of HXAp can be exploited for drug delivery application in cancer nanomedicines. − Integration of the bioimaging property into therapy is an effective approach in monitoring and interpretation of the mode and site of nanocarrier distribution. Based on luminescence, probing of the therapy can be achieved through the usage of quantum dots, carbon nanomaterials, upconversion nanoparticles, metal nanoclusters, and incorporation of fluorescent dyes. , Out of these, metal nanoclusters are a new class of emerging fluorophores having a size closely approaching to Fermi wavelength of electrons and possess discrete energy levels. Among nanoclusters, copper nanoclusters (CuNCs) have attained substantial attention due to their size-tunable luminescent emission between near UV to near-infrared region, water solubility, high photoluminescence, and negligible renal retention. − Using CuNCs, image-guided therapeutic analysis can be achieved with negligible cytotoxicity after incorporating them into biocompatible nanomaterials such as HXAp …”

Mass spectrometry imaging of the in situ drug release from nanocarriers

“…To develop an efficient drug carrier, the investigation of its biodistribution and drug release behavior in a living model biosystem is prerequisite. However, this investigation is challenging in part because of the lacking of desirable analytical techniques that enable simultaneous tracking of the nanocarriers and their payload drugs ( 8 ). The traditional techniques, such as positron emission tomography, magnetic resonance imaging, and fluorescent imaging, have various limitations, including limited spatial resolution, complicated labeling processes, or difficulty in simultaneously tracking the nanocarriers and drug release ( 9 ).…”

Progress in cancer drug delivery based on AS1411 oriented nanomaterials

“…The combination of drug carrier and free small molecule anticancer drugs constitutes a drug delivery system, and the physical and chemical properties of drug carrier itself can significantly change the original mode of action of anticancer drugs, such as its distribution and metabolic behavior in vivo [ 9 , 16 , 17 , 35 , 48 , 63 , 66 – 68 , 70 , 82 , 150 , 154 – 176 ].…”