Introduction of Functional Nanomaterials
Functional nanomaterials consist of nanoscale substances with unique functions and their dimensions range from 1 to 100 nanometers. Functional nanomaterials exhibit broad application potential across materials science, chemical engineering and biomedicine because of their small size and special physical and chemical properties. Nanomaterials enhance both the precision and effectiveness of cancer treatment. Nanomaterials offer enhanced drug delivery efficiency and reduced off-target rates because of their distinctive size benefits and properties. Functionalization allows nanomaterials in cancer treatment to deliver drugs directly to tumors and provide combined treatment which greatly enhances cancer treatment efficacy. Nanotechnology offers unique excellent performance capabilities which enable both multi-material loading and integrated diagnosis and treatment. Nanoparticles can carry both therapeutic drugs and contrast agents which enable simultaneous imaging diagnosis and visual treatment effects.
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Functional Nanomaterials for Phototherapies of Cancer
Near-infrared triggered cancer therapy: The deep penetration ability of near-infrared light (NIR) in biological tissues combined with its low scattering traits makes NIR a popular choice for cancer phototherapy. Phototherapeutic agents like upconversion nanoparticles (UCNPs) and conjugated polymers use near-infrared light to create heat energy or reactive oxygen species (ROS) at tumor locations delivering accurate therapy. For example, a new type of composite nanoparticle UCNPs-CPs, constructed by coordination reaction of two conjugated polymers and upconversion nanoparticles β-NaYF4: A composite nanoparticle UCNPs-CPs built through coordination reaction of conjugated polymers with upconversion nanoparticles β-NaYF4:Yb,Tm (UCNPs) produces reactive oxygen species with 980 nm light excitation and generates heat under 808 nm laser irradiation to provide combined photodynamic/photothermal therapy.
Photodynamic therapy (PDT): Photodynamic therapy (PDT) is a cancer treatment that activates photosensitizers with specific wavelength light to produce reactive oxygen species (ROS) which kill cancer cells. UV-visible light sources restrict PDT effectiveness because of their shallow penetration depth while near-infrared light expands PDT treatment depth and effectiveness. Scientists created a cascade nanosystem triggered by near-infrared light which enables gas-gene synergistic therapy and showed its effectiveness against tumors in both laboratory and living organism tests.
Photothermal therapy (PTT): Photothermal therapy (PTT) operates by converting light energy into heat energy through materials with high photothermal conversion efficiency under external near-infrared light irradiation to destroy cancer cells. PTT demonstrates high photothermal conversion efficiency and deep tissue penetration which makes it effective for tumor cell eradication. The DNAzymes-based cascade nanoplatform merges upconversion nanoparticles (UCNPs) with nitric oxide precursors then employs electrostatic interactions to attach DNAzymes that activate the apurinic/apyrimidinic endonuclease 1 (APE1) enzyme which achieves both near-infrared light-controlled nitric oxide release and APE1-driven gene therapy.
Combined PDT/PTT method: The combination of PDT and PTT creates a synergistic effect which greatly improves cancer treatment outcomes. The development and synthesis of new composite nanomaterials like UCNPs-CPs enables simultaneous heat generation and reactive oxygen species production under near-infrared light irradiation for effective photodynamic/photothermal synergistic therapy. The researchers established a multifunctional nanoplatform that merges hypoxia-activatable multimodal molecular imaging with effective photoimmunotherapy to provide sensitive cancer diagnosis and effective treatment.
Functional Nanomaterials and Nanoprobes for Amplified Biosensing
Nanoprobes for cancer detection: Early cancer detection and diagnosis heavily depend on the use of nanoprobes. Through the application of nanoprobes researchers can monitor cancer directly in the body as it happens and without damaging tissue. The research team led by Cai Lintao created a near-infrared fluorescent nanoprobe derived from indocyanine green (ICG) which possesses stable fluorescence characteristics and targets breast cancer tumor cells for real-time tumor detection. The combination of quantum dot clusters' cation exchange reactions with specific nucleic acid aptamers leads to highly sensitive lymphoma cell detection.
Biosensing mechanism: The sensitivity and specificity of cancer biomarkers are improved by nanomaterials through multiple mechanisms. The detection efficiency of biomarkers increases when nanomaterials function as carriers. Surface modifications of nanomaterials boost their binding with biomarkers and this enhancement leads to more precise detection. The novel TME-responsive hybrid nanodrug ZnPP@FQOS works by remodeling CAFs and regulating both endogenous and exogenous multi-pathway ROS through "confined" loading of protoporphyrin zinc (ZnPP) and quercetin (Que) which leads to improved tumor therapy.
Application in imaging and diagnosis: Real-time monitoring becomes possible when nanoprobes are integrated with imaging technology. Photoacoustic imaging probes benefit from optical probes' high imaging contrast and acoustic probes' deep tissue penetration. The photoacoustic imaging technology enables effective in vivo monitoring through the mapping of multiple chromophores when the laser wavelength is controlled. Optical nanoprobes built from nanofunctional materials enable researchers to address the drawbacks present in conventional optical probes. Nanoprobes have innate optical features and customizable physicochemical traits which enable enhanced sensitivity and specificity along with better targeting capabilities compared to traditional dye-based optical probes.
Functional Magnetic Nanomaterials in Cancer Therapy
Magnetic nanomaterials for targeted drug delivery: Targeted drug delivery heavily depends on the utilization of functional magnetic nanomaterials. Magnetic nanoparticles respond to magnetic fields to reach tumor sites which results in higher drug concentration locally and fewer effects on healthy tissues. Scientists utilize biomimetic synthesis of magnetosomes for cancer treatment which is administered through mice tail veins and steered to tumor sites by external magnetic fields to enhance targeting and tumor tissue penetration. A research team created a novel nanoprobe from Fe5C2 nanoparticles that can transport doxorubicin to tumors with magnetic guidance and assess therapeutic results in real-time via MRI imaging.
Magnetic hyperthermia: Magnetic hyperthermia represents a developing physical hyperthermia treatment for tumors which heats tumor sites between 43~46℃ through the hysteresis or relaxation loss of magnetic nanomaterials driven by an external alternating magnetic field to destroy tumor cells. The therapeutic approach of magnetic hyperthermia directly destroys tumor cells using heat but also boosts treatment results by producing reactive oxygen species and activating anti-tumor immune responses. A drug delivery strategy based on nanotechnology merges magnetic nanomaterials with therapeutic drugs to target tumor treatment accurately through magnetic hyperthermia.
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