Multifunctional Radionanomedicine: A Novel Nanoplatform for Cancer Imaging and Therapy

Abstract

Cancer is the second leading cause for death worldwide, highlighting the paramount importance of cancer research. Decades of research has led to many innovative improvements in cancer research, especially in the areas of imaging and therapy [1]. But the fact is that cancer still it remains a chronic and debilitating disease. Despite these concerns, the cutting edge technologies of nanomedicine provide tremendous scope for treating cancer. Recently, the focuses of the emerging nanomedicine field have been to develop multifunctional nanoplatforms that combine both diagnostic/imaging and therapeutic aspects [1–3]. This type of ‘theranostic’ plays a major role for effective cancer imaging and therapy [4,5]. Radiolabeled nanomedicine (nanoparticles) can be termed as ‘radionanomedicine’, which is effective in the treatment of cancer. It can be also used for theranostic purposes with appropriate radionuclides [4,6]. The most important advantage of radionanoparticles is that they do not alter the original characteristics of the entrapped drug molecule/radionuclide. Multifunctional/theranostic radionanomedicines are able to deliver the radionuclide in a targeted manner to cancer cells, to improve the efficacy and safety of both cancer imaging and therapy with the help of a cancertargeting ligand [1]. Indeed, the development of multifunctional/theranostic radionanomedicine is become a possible state-of-the-art in nanomedicine research [5,6]. Liposomes, dendrimers, quantum dots, iron oxide, nanomicelles, perflurocarbon and carbon nanotubes are commonly used carriers for the fabrication of radionanomedicines. The addition of multifunctional/theranostic approaches into these radionanomedicine carriers can make earlier detection and better treatment of cancer possible [7]. Various radionanomedicines have been demonstrated for multifunctional/ theranostic approaches in preclinical animal studies. Clinical and nanotoxicological studies are required to translate these novel platforms, which have potential clinical benefits for cancer patients [7]. This editorial will focus on recent advances in the design of multifunctional radionanomedicine and its future perspectives.