Recent Developments in Metallic Nanomaterials for Cancer Therapy, Diagnosing and Imaging Applications

Abstract

Cancer continues to represent a global health concern, imposing an ongoing need to research for better treatment alternatives. In this context, nanomedicine seems to be the solution to existing problems, bringing unprecedented results in various biomedical applications, including cancer therapy, diagnosing, and imaging. As numerous studies have uncovered the advantageous properties of various nanoscale metals, this review aims to present metal-based nanoparticles that are most frequently employed for cancer applications. This paper follows the description of relevant nanoparticles made of metals, metal derivatives, hybrids, and alloys, further discussing in more detail their potential applications in cancer management, ranging from the delivery of chemotherapeutics, vaccines, and genes to ablative hyperthermia therapies and theranostic platforms.

The Use of Capping Agents in the Stabilization and Functionalization of Metallic Nanoparticles for Biomedical Applications

“…[201] The use of MNPs in the treatment of cancer is favored by their narrow size and shape distribution, longer bioavailability, possibilities for surface functionalization, and the enhanced permeability and retention effect (EPR), which enables particle accumulation in tumor tissues. [202,203] Multifunctionalization is a plus; MNPs bearing target-specific ligands can deliver surface-conjugated drugs to selected sites, while their optical and magnetic properties are useful for bioimaging or thermal therapies. [204] Besides the generation of ROS that was mentioned before, certain MNPs are able to induce oxidative stress in tumor cells.…”

CuZn Complex Used in Electrical Biosensors for Drug Delivery Systems

“…For Zn, it is oxidised to ZnO, which does not have any toxic problems. Moreover, ZnO NP is an antimicrobial and anticancer-like genotoxic drug [ 79 ], which is also suitable as an anti-osteosarcoma scaffold [ 80 ]. Because of their high conductivity, Cu, Zn, and CuZn could be synthesised through physical, chemical, biological, and hybrid techniques [ 81 ].…”

Advances with metal oxide-based nanoparticles as MDR metastatic breast cancer therapeutics and diagnostics

“…Further, metal oxide-based hybrid nanoparticle drug delivery platforms play a significant role in diagnosis, therapy, and overcoming drug resistance in cancer. 197–199…”

“…Further, metal oxide-based hybrid nanoparticle drug delivery platforms play a signicant role in diagnosis, therapy, and overcoming drug resistance in cancer. [197][198][199] Metal oxide nanoparticles-based systems for tumor imaging in clinic Recent development of metal oxide-based nanoparticles has led to advancement in molecular and cellular imaging, cancer therapy, and integrated nanodevices for cancer detection and screening. 5,200 Magnetic metal oxides, particularly, iron oxide nanoparticles are widely used in cancer therapy and diagnosis.…”