Current and Future Aspects of Smart Nanotheranostic Agents in Cancer Therapeutics

Abstract

Despite the wide range of knowledge and information about cancer and advances in its treatment, still it is among the leading cause of mortality. Scientists around the globe are working on developing the new strategies to combat this fatal disease, and fortunately significant advances have already been achieved. In this regard, nanomedicines can play a vital role by improving the bio-distribution and the target site delivery of chemotherapeutics. Along with therapeutic applications, nanomedicine formulations have been used for imaging purposes as well. Nanotheranostics is a relatively new but flourishing field, which combines the diagnosis and therapy for personalized treatment. Combining the nanomaterials of diverse origins, e.g., polymers, liposomes, micelles, and antibodies, scientists have successfully developed the smart nanoparticles for both diagnostics and therapeutics at the same time in vivo. In addition, theranostics can be conjugated with bio-ligands for targeted drug delivery to treat and monitor the treatment response at molecular level. Potential applications of nanotheranostic medicines are assessment of drug biodistribution, site-targeted drug delivery, and visualization of drug release at the delivery site. These applications help to optimize the strategies based on triggered drug release and the prediction of therapeutic responses. In the near future, nanotheranostics are the practical solution for cancer and other lethal diseases to cure or at least treat them in the early stage.