Theranostic nanoplatforms for simultaneous cancer imaging and therapy: current approaches and future perspectives

Abstract

Theranostics is a concept which refers to the integration of imaging and therapy. As an evolving new field, it is related to but different from traditional imaging and therapeutics. It embraces multiple techniques to arrive at a comprehensive diagnostic, in vivo molecular images and an individualized treatment regimen. More recently, there is a trend of tangling these efforts with emerging materials and nanotechnologies, in an attempt to develop novel platforms and methodologies to tackle practical issues in clinics. In this article, topics of rationally designed nanoparticles for the simultaneous imaging and therapy of cancer will be discussed. Several exemplary nanoparticle platforms such as polymeric nanoparticles, gold nanomaterials, carbon nanotubes, magnetic nanoparticles and silica nanoparticles will be elaborated on and future challenges of nanoparticle-based systems will be discussed.

Magnetic Nanoparticles for Precision Oncology: Theranostic Magnetic Iron Oxide Nanoparticles for Image-Guided and Targeted Cancer Therapy

“…Such a precision oncology approach using imageguided drug delivery system, or theranostic nanoparticles, should allow timely assessment and adjustment of treatment strategies for cancer patients. In addition to the promising imaging property, theranostic nanoparticles have been produced to carry a single therapeutic agent or the combination of two or more drugs [80,81], including chemotherapy drugs, small-molecule agents, photosensitizers and siRNAs. Significant advantages of nanoparticle-formulated drug delivery include: first, increasing the effective drug dose by selective delivery of a large amount of drug molecules, especially highly insoluble drug-loaded nanoparticles, into the tumor while reducing systemic side effects [82]; second, protecting drug molecules or biological therapeutic agents (siRNAs or peptides) from degradation before reaching target tissues and cells [83] and third, targeted delivery through cell receptors that bypasses multidrug-resistant mechanisms on the tumor cell membrane [84].…”

Theranostic near-infrared fluorescent nanoplatform for imaging and systemic siRNA delivery to metastatic anaplastic thyroid cancer

“…The heterogeneous response of cancer nanomedicines in clinical trials has recently prompted the need to incorporate imaging modalities to identify cancer patients with stronger EPR effects and NP accumulation (10,11). By integrating diagnostic and therapeutic functions into a single NP formulation, theranostic nanomedicine offers a promising strategy to monitor the therapeutic pharmacokinetics and accumulation and the pathological process longitudinally, yielding important insights into tumor heterogeneities and EPR for patient selection and predictive nanomedicine (12). It is also worth noting that time is usually of the essence for treatment of ATC because of the unique rapid nature of the disease progression and the development of massive local invasion and distant metastases.…”

Detection of Cancer Biomarkers With Nanotechnology

“…Besides the field of cancer biomarker detection reviewed herein, nanotechnology has also been actively involved in the following fields: (1) cancer biomarker identification (Fredolini et al, 2010), (2) cancer imaging and treatment (Choi et al, 2012), (3) cancer metastasis (Schroeder et al, 2012) and (4) cancer stem cell research (Vinogradov and Wei, 2012). Researchers with different backgrounds and experiences are working together in this exciting forefront area toward the same ultimate goal: turning cancer into a curable disease, benefiting mankind.…”