The Applications of Gold Nanoparticles in the Diagnosis and Treatment of Gastrointestinal Cancer

Abstract

In recent years, the morbidity and mortality of gastrointestinal cancer have remained high in China. Due to the deep location of the gastrointestinal organs, such as gastric cancer, the early symptoms of cancer are not obvious. It is generally discovered at an advanced stage with distant metastasis and lymph node infiltration, making it difficult to cure. Therefore, there is a significant need for novel technologies that can effectively diagnose and treat gastrointestinal cancer, ultimately reducing its mortality. Gold nanoparticles (GNPs), a type of nanocarrier with unique optical properties and remarkable biocompatibility, have the potential to influence the fate of cancer by delivering drugs, nucleic acids to cancer cells and tissues. As a safe and reliable visualization agent, GNPs can track drugs and accurately indicate the location and boundaries of cancer, opening up new possibilities for cancer treatment. In addition, GNPs have been used in photodynamic therapy to deliver photosensitizers, as well as in combination with photothermal therapy. Therefore, GNPs can be used as a safe and effective nanomaterial in the treatment and diagnosis of gastrointestinal cancer.

Multimodal Potentials of Gold Nanoparticles for Bone Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine: Avenues and Prospects

“…Figure elements reproduced with permission. [51][52][53] Copyright 2020, Springer Nature; 2022, Frontiers; 2018, Elsevier. there is autocatalytic surface growth of the particles with no diffusion control.…”

“…Figure elements reproduced with permission. [ 51–53 ] Copyright 2020, Springer Nature; 2022, Frontiers; 2018, Elsevier.…”

Romanian Viscum album L.—Untargeted Low-Molecular Metabolomic Approach to Engineered Viscum–AuNPs Carrier Assembly

“…Hence, they are especially useful in the design of innovative materials, robust and selective for vectorization, imaging, diagnostics, and cancer therapy [ 28 , 31 , 32 , 33 ]. Hereafter, the design of a phyto-engineered-AuNPs carrier assembly will act as a selective vehicle with multi-targeted effects that exert a significant anti-proliferative effect [ 31 , 32 , 33 , 34 ].…”

IAEA Contribution to Nanosized Targeted Radiopharmaceuticals for Drug Delivery

“…For example, the surface chemistry of gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) allow for efficient loading of DNA or RNA onto the surfaces via strong and biocompatible covalent interactions [ 1 , 2 ]. Tumor specific targeting abilities of cancer drug functionalized nanomedicine agents are proving to be highly effective in alleviating debilitating effects of adverse toxicity and drug resistance of standard FDA approved cancer therapy agents [ 3 , 4 , 5 , 6 , 7 , 8 , 9 ]. Several recent investigations have shown compelling scientific evidence that nanosizing of pharmaceuticals results in reducing onset of cancer drug resistance, and site specificity reduces systemic drug toxicity, offering significant improvement in therapeutic efficacy of current and future chemotherapeutic agents [ 6 , 7 , 8 , 9 , 10 , 11 ].…”

“…Tumor specific targeting abilities of cancer drug functionalized nanomedicine agents are proving to be highly effective in alleviating debilitating effects of adverse toxicity and drug resistance of standard FDA approved cancer therapy agents [ 3 , 4 , 5 , 6 , 7 , 8 , 9 ]. Several recent investigations have shown compelling scientific evidence that nanosizing of pharmaceuticals results in reducing onset of cancer drug resistance, and site specificity reduces systemic drug toxicity, offering significant improvement in therapeutic efficacy of current and future chemotherapeutic agents [ 6 , 7 , 8 , 9 , 10 , 11 ]. In sharp contrast to recent successes of nanosizing various pharmaceutical agents, currently used radiotherapeutic agents in nuclear medicine continue to pose medical challenges mainly due to the limited uptake of diagnostic/therapeutic radioprobes within tumor sites [ 12 ].…”