Gold nanoparticles enlighten the future of cancer theranostics

Abstract

Jianfeng Guo,1 Kamil Rahme,2–4 Yan He,1 Lin-Lin Li,5 Justin D Holmes,3,4 Caitriona M O’Driscoll6 1School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Jilin University, Changchun, China; 2Department of Sciences, Faculty of Natural and Applied Science, Notre Dame University (Louaize), Zouk Mosbeh, Lebanon; 3Department of Chemistry, Tyndall National Institute, University College Cork, Cork, 4AMBER@CRANN, Trinity College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland; 5The First Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, China; 6Pharmacodelivery Group, School of Pharmacy, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland Abstract: Development of multifunctional nanomaterials, one of the most interesting and advanced research areas in the field of nanotechnology, is anticipated to revolutionize cancer diagnosis and treatment. Gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) are now being widely utilized in bioimaging and phototherapy due to their tunable and highly sensitive optical and electronic properties (the surface plasmon resonance). As a new concept, termed “theranostics,” multifunctional AuNPs may contain diagnostic and therapeutic functions that can be integrated into one system, thereby simultaneously facilitating diagnosis and therapy and monitoring therapeutic responses. In this review, the important properties of AuNPs relevant to diagnostic and phototherapeutic applications such as structure, shape, optics, and surface chemistry are described. Barriers for translational development of theranostic AuNPs and recent advances in the application of AuNPs for cancer diagnosis, photothermal, and photodynamic therapy are discussed. Keywords: multifunctional gold nanoparticles, cancer bioimaging, cancer photothermal and photodynamic therapy

Keywords

• Multifunctional gold nanoparticles
• cancer bioimaging
• cancer photothermal and photodynamic therapy.