Abstract
Multifunctional nanoparticles with superior imaging properties and therapeutic effects have been extensively developed for the nanomedicine. However, tumor-intrinsic barriers and tumor heterogeneity have resulted in low in vivo therapeutic efficacy. The poor in vivo targeting efficiency in passive and active targeting of nanotherapeutics along with the toxicity of nanoparticles has been a major problem in nanomedicine. Recently, image-guided nanomedicine, which can deliver nanoparticles locally using non-invasive imaging and interventional oncology techniques, has been paid attention as a new opportunity of nanomedicine. This short review will discuss the existing challenges in nanomedicine and describe the prospects for future image-guided nanomedicine.
Highlights
Various nanomaterials, having special functions that have not been observed in bulk materials, can provide opportunities for innovative biomedical applications
The enhanced permeability and retention (EPR) effect and active targeting using tumor specific molecules are regarded as promising approaches for the tumor targeting, but RES sequestration, tumor-intrinsic barriers and tumor heterogeneity resulted in extremely low tumor targeting and tumor uptake efficiency [20,21,22]
Interventional oncology is a subspecialty field of interventional radiology that performs the diagnosis and treatment of cancer using targeted minimally invasive procedures performed under image guidance
Summary
Various nanomaterials, having special functions that have not been observed in bulk materials, can provide opportunities for innovative biomedical applications. Cancer nanomedicine using unique features of nanomaterials has been expected to provide new opportunities in early diagnosis, imaging and treatment of cancers. The small size, high surface area, aqueous solubility, and multi-functionality of nanoparticles have created new biomedical applications. The novel properties of nanoparticles have demonstrated the ability to interact with complex cellular functions in new ways. This rapidly growing field as an inter-disciplinary research develops multifunctional nanostructures and approaches that can target, diagnose, and treat devastating cancers. Upconversion nanoparticles have been developed for stable luminescent and multimodal imaging functions in pre-/intra-/post-operative imaging [18] Those proposed nanomedicines using novel nanoparticles should be a desirable new approach to treat cancers
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