Role of Tunable Gold Nanostructures in Cancer Nanotheranostics: Implications on Synthesis, Toxicity, Clinical Applications and Their Associated Opportunities and Challenges

Abstract

The existing diagnosis and treatment modalities have major limitations related to their precision and capability to understand several stages of disease development. A superior therapeutic system consists of a multifunctional approach in early diagnosis of the disease with a simultaneous progressive cure, using a precise medical approach towards complex treatment. These challenges can be addressed via nanotheranostics and explore suitable approaches to improve health care. Nanotechnology in combination with theranostics as an unconventional platform paved the way for developing novel strategies and modalities leading to diagnosis and therapy for complex disease conditions, ranging from acute to chronic levels. Among the metal nanoparticles, gold nanoparticles are being widely used for theranostics due to their inherent non-toxic nature and plasmonic properties. The unique optical and chemical properties of plasmonic metal nanoparticles along with theranostics have led to a promising era of plausible early detection of disease conditions, and they enable real-time monitoring with enhanced non-invasive or minimally invasive imaging of several ailments. This review aims to highlight the improvement and advancement brought to nanotheranostics by gold nanoparticles in the past decade. The clinical use of the metal nanoparticles in nanotheranostics is explained, along with the future perspectives on addressing the key applications related to diagnostics and therapeutics, respectively. The scope of gold nanoparticles and their realistic potential to design a sophisticated theranostic system is discussed in detail, along with their implications in clinical advancements which are the needs of the hour. The review concluded with the challenges, opportunities, and implications on translational potential of using gold nanoparticles in nanotheranostics.

Nanomaterials for Precision Diagnostics and Therapeutic Interventions in Modern Healthcare

“…In vitro studies centered on assessing the symptomatic and restorative capabilities of the synthesized smart nanomaterials. For diagnostics, fluorescence concentrated estimations uncovered the responsiveness of the nanomaterials to shifting physiological conditions [26]. The data show a clear temperature-dependent reaction, approving the potential of these nanomaterials for temperature-sensitive diagnostics.…”

Magnetic nanosystem a tool for targeted delivery and diagnostic application: Current challenges and recent advancement

“…Therefore, by delivering therapeutic molecules and offering early disease diagnosis and progression for future treatment profiles, nanotheranostics offers benefits over traditional treatments. Targeted delivery also reduces socioeconomic burden, exponential drug use and overdose, and allows for real-time patient monitoring of payload delivery, bioavailability, and biodistribution ( Mura and Couvreur, 2012 ; Kumar et al, 2023 ). The magnetic properties of iron (Fe) were utilized by the hybrid iron‑platinum (FePt) nanoparticles for the purpose of magnetic field-guided targeting of glioblastoma and hepatocellular carcinoma ( Chen et al, 2020 ).…”

The Golden Liposomes: Preparation and Biomedical Applications of Gold-Liposome Nanocomposites

“…AuNP were applied in various biomedical applications including imaging, diagnosis, therapeutics, and drug delivery, as summarized in Figure 1 [35,[62][63][64][65]. The unique optical properties of AuNP are the origin and the basis of various sensing and imaging applications.…”