International Journal of Nanomedicine (Jul 2018)
Magnetic polymeric nanoassemblies for magnetic resonance imaging-combined cancer theranostics
Abstract
Shenglong Gan,1,2,* Yisheng Lin,3,* Yancong Feng,1,2 Lingling Shui,1,2 Hao Li,1,2 Guofu Zhou1,2 1Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Optical Information Materials and Technology and Institute of Electronic Paper Displays, South China Academy of Advanced Optoelectronics, South China Normal University, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510006, 2National Center for International Research on Green Optoelectronics, South China Normal University, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510006, 3Department of Radiology, The First Affiliated Hospital, Guangzhou University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510405, China *These authors contributed equally to this work Abstract: Cancer has become one of the primary causes of death worldwide. Current cancer-therapy schemes are progressing relatively slowly in terms of reducing mortality, prolonging survival, time and enhancing cure rate, owing to the enormous obstacles of cancer pathophysiology. Therefore, specific diagnosis and therapy for malignant tumors are becoming more and more crucial and urgent, especially for early cancer diagnosis and cancer-targeted therapy. Derived theranostics that combine several functions into one “package” could further overcome undesirable differences in biodistribution and selectivity between distinct imaging and therapeutic agents. In this article, we discuss a chief clinical diagnosis tool – MRI – focusing on recent progress in magnetic agents or systems in multifunctional polymer nanoassemblies for combing cancer theranostics. We describe abundant polymeric MRI-contrast agents integrated with chemotherapy, gene therapy, thermotherapy, and radiotherapy, as well as other developing directions. Keywords: polymer, nanoassembly, magnetic resonance imaging, cancer theranostics
