Inorganic nanomaterials are widely applied in the diagnosis and comprehensive therapy of multiple diseases, in particular tumors, because of their unique nano-characters. Superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles, upconversion nanoparticles and noble metal nanoparticles are the representative ones, possessing excellent magnetic, optical and thermal properties respectively. In this review, we focus on the applications of the three kinds of inorganic nanomaterials in bio-detection in vitro, molecular imaging in vivo, targeting anti-tumor drug delivery and tumor therapy. The advantages as well as the limitations of them in tumor theranostics are discussed. By this way, some references and suggestions are provided to develop more biocompatible inorganic nanomaterials with better theranostic effects, which will promote their clinical transformation.
Contents
1 Introduction
2 Superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles
2.1 Separation and detection in vitro
2.2 Magnetic resonance imaging
2.3 Magnetic hyperthermia therapy
3 Upconversion nanoparticles
3.1 Multimodality imaging
3.2 Comprehensive therapy of tumor
4 Noble metal (Au、Pt) nanoparticles
5 Conclusion and outlook