Nanoparticles in the early diagnosis and treatment of tumors: current status and progress
Source TMR Publishing Group
Author Traditional Medicine Research Editorial Department
Research highlights
This article discusses the application of nanoparticles in the early diagnosis and treatment of tumors from different perspectives of traditional Chinese and Western medicine, indicating that nanoparticles can be used in the research and application of the bioavailability and target specificity of integrated traditional Chinese and Western medicine.
Research Background
Malignant tumors seriously threaten human life and health. Despite the recent development of modern medical technology, early diagnosis and treatment of tumors are still difficult due to the asymptomatic nature of the disease and the limitations of current clinical diagnostic methods. Advances in nanotechnology, especially in the field of multifunctional diagnostic nanomaterials, can help effectively solve current deficiencies by simultaneously achieving early diagnosis, image-guided intervention, and real-time tumor monitoring and treatment.
The development of nanomaterials and nanotechnology can also help the development of anti-cancer drugs by improving safety and side effects and enhancing the target specificity of drugs. At the same time, the latest developments in the field of nanomaterials help to innovate new methods of clinical application of traditional Chinese medicine. Because the combination of traditional Chinese medicine ingredients and nanoparticles overcomes various shortcomings, including poor water solubility, low bioavailability and short half-life. In addition, nanoparticles also enhance the bioavailability and targeting specificity of these drugs.
This review discusses the application of nanoparticles in the early diagnosis and treatment of tumors in modern and traditional medicine.
Nanoparticles and early tumor diagnosis
1) Application of quantum dots in early tumor diagnosis
Quantum dots (QD) are semiconductor nanocrystals with a diameter of 2-10 nm. The inorganic-organic hybrid nanomaterials composed of quantum dots can enter the circulatory system without obstacles, and can navigate to specific locations, so that the target molecules can interact with tumor markers...
2) The application of nanoparticles in early tumor diagnosis in magnetic resonance imaging
Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is an efficient non-invasive imaging tool for disease diagnosis and monitoring. In recent years, as MRI technology has made significant progress, many researchers have devoted themselves to using nanoparticles to enhance the tumor diagnosis capabilities of MRI.
In particular, ultra-small superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles have proven to be the most widely used in magnetic nanoparticles. In addition to being used as MRI contrast agents, iron oxide nanoparticles have also been used by researchers as chemotherapeutics for targeted drug delivery...
3) Early tumor diagnosis application of nanoparticles in positron emission tomography
Positron emission tomography (PET) has become more and more common in clinical settings due to its non-invasiveness, high patient compliance and high diagnostic accuracy. PET imaging can effectively diagnose tumors and cardiovascular diseases. Studies have shown that the use of radionucleotide-labeled nanoparticle carrier systems can further improve the sensitivity of PET imaging in tumor diagnosis. The use of nanoparticles allows the development of multimodal imaging probes for image-guided targeting...
Nanoparticles as a drug carrier for early tumor treatment
The safety and tolerability of antitumor drugs and the improvement of target selectivity have been the main goals of researchers. The latest development of nanotechnology has discovered novel research methods for targeted delivery of anti-tumor drugs, which has made substantial progress in basic research and applied research in this field.
Inorganic nanomaterial gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) can have different functions and morphologies due to their unique biochemical properties. According to the morphology, AuNPs can be divided into Au nanospheres, Au nanorods and Au nanocrystals, and are mainly used for photothermal ablation of tumors in the early stage...
Nanoparticles are used as drug carriers for the treatment of tumors with Chinese medicine monomers
Studies have shown that Chinese medicine monomers play an active role in the treatment of tumors. With the increasing application of nanomaterials in the field of tumor research, many attempts have been made to combine TCM monomers with nanomaterials for tumor treatment. Early research work in this field has been dedicated to enhancing the targeted delivery of monomer active ingredients of traditional Chinese medicine...
Outlook
Currently lacking effective diagnosis and treatment measures, tumors are still a huge threat to human health worldwide. With the help of recent experimental research, the application of nanomaterials in tumor diagnosis and treatment has made significant progress. However, researchers still face huge challenges in effectively applying these materials to the clinic. In particular, the biological safety of nanomaterials is still a serious challenge because there is a lack of clear evidence that nanomaterials can be effectively metabolized in the body without causing obvious toxic and side effects through accumulation.
In addition, due to the lack of clear evaluation criteria, it is difficult to determine the safe dose level of nanoparticle-based drugs. However, there is no doubt that the combination of nanomaterials and biodiagnostic technology can effectively help the diagnosis and prevention of diseases. Nanomedicine technology can make positive contributions to the further development of clinical medicine and basic medicine. Generally, the application of traditional Chinese medicine in tumor treatment is limited by the biochemical properties of the therapeutic agent. However, a novel approach that overcomes these limitations by combining active Chinese medicine ingredients with nanomaterials has effectively enhanced the former’s biological efficacy and target specificity. When used with other chemotherapeutics, nanomaterials can also help solve the problem of tumor resistance.
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Tang CL, Li H, Hong JM, Chai XQ. Application of nanoparticles in the early diagnosis and treatment of tumors: current status and progress. Tradit Med Res. 2020;5(1):34–43. doi:10.12032/TMR20191228152
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Traditional Medicine Research Traditional Medicine Research (ISSN 2413-3973) has been
Emerging Sources Citation Index (ESCI), 2020 Chinese Academy of Sciences Journal Division, Embase, DOAJ, ProQuest, J-Gate, EuroPub, WHO-COVID-19 Database, Google Scholar, EBSCO, ISC, ICI, MIAR, MIT Barton Catalog, OAJI, Cosmos, ESJI, Universiteitsbibliotheek Gent, ResearchBib, Argentina.gob.ar, GoOA Database, Research4Life (AGORA), National Science Library-Chinese Academy of Sciences, Ingenta Connect, CNKI Scholar, Baidu Scholar, CSTJ, VIP, Superstar Journals Database and Wanfang Data, included in GoOA database.
Specially welcome traditional medical research and related social science research with clear historical records, ethnic and regional characteristics.
Official website: https://www.tmrjournals.com/tmr
Submission address: https://submission.tmrjournals.com/submission?journal=18
Author Traditional Medicine Research Editorial Department
Research highlights
This article discusses the application of nanoparticles in the early diagnosis and treatment of tumors from different perspectives of traditional Chinese and Western medicine, indicating that nanoparticles can be used in the research and application of the bioavailability and target specificity of integrated traditional Chinese and Western medicine.
Research Background
Malignant tumors seriously threaten human life and health. Despite the recent development of modern medical technology, early diagnosis and treatment of tumors are still difficult due to the asymptomatic nature of the disease and the limitations of current clinical diagnostic methods. Advances in nanotechnology, especially in the field of multifunctional diagnostic nanomaterials, can help effectively solve current deficiencies by simultaneously achieving early diagnosis, image-guided intervention, and real-time tumor monitoring and treatment.
The development of nanomaterials and nanotechnology can also help the development of anti-cancer drugs by improving safety and side effects and enhancing the target specificity of drugs. At the same time, the latest developments in the field of nanomaterials help to innovate new methods of clinical application of traditional Chinese medicine. Because the combination of traditional Chinese medicine ingredients and nanoparticles overcomes various shortcomings, including poor water solubility, low bioavailability and short half-life. In addition, nanoparticles also enhance the bioavailability and targeting specificity of these drugs.
This review discusses the application of nanoparticles in the early diagnosis and treatment of tumors in modern and traditional medicine.
Nanoparticles and early tumor diagnosis
1) Application of quantum dots in early tumor diagnosis
Quantum dots (QD) are semiconductor nanocrystals with a diameter of 2-10 nm. The inorganic-organic hybrid nanomaterials composed of quantum dots can enter the circulatory system without obstacles, and can navigate to specific locations, so that the target molecules can interact with tumor markers...
2) The application of nanoparticles in early tumor diagnosis in magnetic resonance imaging
Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is an efficient non-invasive imaging tool for disease diagnosis and monitoring. In recent years, as MRI technology has made significant progress, many researchers have devoted themselves to using nanoparticles to enhance the tumor diagnosis capabilities of MRI.
In particular, ultra-small superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles have proven to be the most widely used in magnetic nanoparticles. In addition to being used as MRI contrast agents, iron oxide nanoparticles have also been used by researchers as chemotherapeutics for targeted drug delivery...
3) Early tumor diagnosis application of nanoparticles in positron emission tomography
Positron emission tomography (PET) has become more and more common in clinical settings due to its non-invasiveness, high patient compliance and high diagnostic accuracy. PET imaging can effectively diagnose tumors and cardiovascular diseases. Studies have shown that the use of radionucleotide-labeled nanoparticle carrier systems can further improve the sensitivity of PET imaging in tumor diagnosis. The use of nanoparticles allows the development of multimodal imaging probes for image-guided targeting...
Nanoparticles as a drug carrier for early tumor treatment
The safety and tolerability of antitumor drugs and the improvement of target selectivity have been the main goals of researchers. The latest development of nanotechnology has discovered novel research methods for targeted delivery of anti-tumor drugs, which has made substantial progress in basic research and applied research in this field.
Inorganic nanomaterial gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) can have different functions and morphologies due to their unique biochemical properties. According to the morphology, AuNPs can be divided into Au nanospheres, Au nanorods and Au nanocrystals, and are mainly used for photothermal ablation of tumors in the early stage...
Nanoparticles are used as drug carriers for the treatment of tumors with Chinese medicine monomers
Studies have shown that Chinese medicine monomers play an active role in the treatment of tumors. With the increasing application of nanomaterials in the field of tumor research, many attempts have been made to combine TCM monomers with nanomaterials for tumor treatment. Early research work in this field has been dedicated to enhancing the targeted delivery of monomer active ingredients of traditional Chinese medicine...
Outlook
Currently lacking effective diagnosis and treatment measures, tumors are still a huge threat to human health worldwide. With the help of recent experimental research, the application of nanomaterials in tumor diagnosis and treatment has made significant progress. However, researchers still face huge challenges in effectively applying these materials to the clinic. In particular, the biological safety of nanomaterials is still a serious challenge because there is a lack of clear evidence that nanomaterials can be effectively metabolized in the body without causing obvious toxic and side effects through accumulation.
In addition, due to the lack of clear evaluation criteria, it is difficult to determine the safe dose level of nanoparticle-based drugs. However, there is no doubt that the combination of nanomaterials and biodiagnostic technology can effectively help the diagnosis and prevention of diseases. Nanomedicine technology can make positive contributions to the further development of clinical medicine and basic medicine. Generally, the application of traditional Chinese medicine in tumor treatment is limited by the biochemical properties of the therapeutic agent. However, a novel approach that overcomes these limitations by combining active Chinese medicine ingredients with nanomaterials has effectively enhanced the former’s biological efficacy and target specificity. When used with other chemotherapeutics, nanomaterials can also help solve the problem of tumor resistance.
Scan QR code to get full text
Learn more about related research
image
Citation format
Tang CL, Li H, Hong JM, Chai XQ. Application of nanoparticles in the early diagnosis and treatment of tumors: current status and progress. Tradit Med Res. 2020;5(1):34–43. doi:10.12032/TMR20191228152
image
Traditional Medicine Research Traditional Medicine Research (ISSN 2413-3973) has been
Emerging Sources Citation Index (ESCI), 2020 Chinese Academy of Sciences Journal Division, Embase, DOAJ, ProQuest, J-Gate, EuroPub, WHO-COVID-19 Database, Google Scholar, EBSCO, ISC, ICI, MIAR, MIT Barton Catalog, OAJI, Cosmos, ESJI, Universiteitsbibliotheek Gent, ResearchBib, Argentina.gob.ar, GoOA Database, Research4Life (AGORA), National Science Library-Chinese Academy of Sciences, Ingenta Connect, CNKI Scholar, Baidu Scholar, CSTJ, VIP, Superstar Journals Database and Wanfang Data, included in GoOA database.
Specially welcome traditional medical research and related social science research with clear historical records, ethnic and regional characteristics.
Official website: https://www.tmrjournals.com/tmr
Submission address: https://submission.tmrjournals.com/submission?journal=18
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