Themed collection International Year of the Periodic Table: Precious metals for cancer treatment

Discovering the vast therapeutic potential of siRNA opened up new clinical research areas focussing on a number of diseases and applications; however significant problems with siRNA stability and delivery have hindered its clinical applicability.

The nanoparticles exhibit excellent tumor accumulation and lead to complete tumor eradication with low power NIR laser irradiation.

Breast cancer detection: The biosensor based on HER2 antibodies attached to MSN–AuNC hybrids is sensitive, selective, economical and simple to operate.

Inspired by the chain reactions among silver nanoparticles, glucose oxidase (GOx) and intratumoral glucose, a degradable silver-based nanoplatform was developed for synergistic cancer starving-like/metal ion therapy.

MCF7 Cells biomineralize gold ions into long aspect-ratio nanoribbons in the presence of spherical nanoparticles as seeds with excellent photothermal properties.

Hyaluronic acid nanoparticles containing a platinum(II)–silicon(IV) phthalocyanine conjugate exhibited selective uptake by cancer cells and potent mitochondria-targeted PDT and chemotherapy.

Herein, smart Au nanorod@dendrimer-assembly nanohybrids (AuNR@DA NHs) were developed for adapting sequential biological barriers and remodeling tumor permeability, thereby achieving multimodal enhancement of penetration and internalization in multidrug-resistant poorly-permeable tumors.

Herein, we demonstrate a novel, facile, and suitable strategy for imaging GSH based on mercaptopyrimidine-directed gold nanoclusters (Au NCs).

Smart gold nanoparticle-stabilized ultrasound microbubbles (SAuMBs) having diagnostic (US and PAT) and therapeutic (PTT) effects were applied as cancer theranostics.

Stimuli-responsive nanoprobes that integrate multi-modal imaging capacities are highly desirable for precise tumor visualization.

Morphological changes and trypan-blue staining are temporally tracked in single cells via optical microscopy after plasmonic photothermal heating.

The key role of polyethylene glycol is demonstrated.

A study to find the optimum sized gold nanorod for use in PA imaging and/or optical-based theranostics, by comparing four different sizes with similar aspect ratios.

The AuNCs@Tf-Cu²⁺ system for the sensitive and selective detection of endogenous glutathione (GSH) can illuminate tumor cells rather than normal cells, which implied its great potential application in cancer diagnosis.

Gold nanostars were developed for cancer cell-targeted NIR-I/II SERS-imaging and PPTT.

A multifunctional nanoplatform exhibits selective intracellular co-delivery of Pt(II) and NO under 808 nm light irradiation, accompanied by photothermal therapy.

Recent years have witnessed significant progress in the field of two-photon-activated photodynamic therapy (TP-PDT).

Polyethyleneimine-assisted one-pot synthesis of gold nanoparticles that self-arrange into fractal nanoaggregates and demonstrate photo-thermal therapeutic and imaging efficiency.

Au NPL@TiO₂ nanostructures play the dual role of heat- and ROS-generating agents, which lead to synergetic photothermal/sonodynamic therapy in the second biological window.

Surface modified gold nanoflowers were employed as synergistic therapeutics for photothermal ablation and gene silencing.

A universal dual-template cascade strategy for the synthesis of multi-branched gold nanoshells with ultrastrong NIR absorption for tumor photothermal therapy.

We coupled the photothermal and thermoresponsive properties in one nanoplatform by wrapping AuNRs@mSiO₂ with thermoresponsive lipid bilayer.

This study establishes FGO–Ag as a novel fluorescence “turn-off” nanocarrier with good targeting efficiency and high NIR absorption and drug loading; it also demonstrates its application in antibacterial and cancer chemo-photothermal treatments.

BSA-bioinspired, immunoadjuvant-loaded gold nanorods for synergetic cancer photothermal therapy and immunotherapy.

A fluorescence lifetime imaging microscopy technique is used to discriminate between the specific binding of biofunctionalized fluorescent gold nanoclusters on cells and their subsequent internalization.

Glutathione (GSH)-mediated drug resistance can strongly weaken the therapeutic efficiency of platinum(II).

Temperature sensitive polymers were modified onto gold nanocages, and the resultant temperature sensitive hydrogels achieved precise synchronization of hyperthermia and chemotherapy by the on-demand release.

We report the in vivo biodistribution of luminescent gold nanoclusters (NCs) stabilized by bidentate zwitterionic molecules in subcutaneous and orthotopic glioblastoma mice models.

DNA damage induced by gold nanoparticles is largely repaired over time, indicating that DNA damage is of transient nature.

Tunable aggregation of gold-silica janus nanoparticles is utilized to enable contrast-enhanced multiwavelength photoacoustic imaging in vitro/in vivo.

Cancer imaging and therapy in the second near-infrared (NIR II) window have gained increasing interest owing to the high light penetration depth and minimal optical scattering in the NIR II region (1000–1350 nm).

FA-modified-GO coated core–shell Ag₂S@mesoporous silica where DOX was loaded for active targeting FL/PA imaging and synergistic chemo-photothermal therapy of tumors.

A localized therapeutic system, consisting of gold nanorods (Au NRs) loaded with hTERT siRNA assembled on the surface of ZnGa₂O₄:Cr (ZGOC) nanofibers, offers the potential for a LED-induced mild photothermal effect which enhances gene silencing effect in cancer cells.

This comprehensive study suggested an optimum PEG polymer length of 5 kDa is advantageous for surface passivation and colloidal stability of AuNRs, which also maximizes the heat conduction from the nanorod–liquid interface to the surroundings, thereby, enhancing photothermal efficiency.

As an important biomarker for early cancer diagnosis and a valuable therapeutic target, the detection and monitoring of telomerase activity has attracted extensive attention.

Novel contrast agent were designed for in vivo T₁&T₂-MRI/CT/NIR fluorescence imaging and induction of genuine autophagy-mediated chemosensitization for cancer therapy.

A novel traceable and targeted drug delivery nanosystem with high drug encapsulation and pH-controlled release was prepared based on gold nanoflowers for efficient intracellular SERS imaging-guided chemo-phototherapy.

Since conventional chemotherapy is a systemic treatment that affects the body globally and will not concentrate inside the tumor, it causes adverse side effects to patients.

Gold nanorod, InP/ZnS QD and c(RGDfC) based multifunctional nanoprobe for dual-modal imaging of active targeting of tumors in vivo.

A Dex-DEPt hydrogel was immobilized in tumors for a period of days to allow repeated PTT and degraded spontaneously post-treatment.

A combination of different therapy strategies has great potential to efficaciously treat malignant tumors, by virtue of their synergetic effects.

Herein, we report the formation of a crystalline assembly of gold (Au) nanoclusters for cancer theranostics via active targeting of mitochondria.

Gold nanoparticles with various positive charge densities and hydrophobicities induce cellular oxidative stress differently and sensitize cancer cells to paclitaxel.

A versatile GNS-NLS@HA nanoplatform was constructed for tumor cellular/intranuclear dual-targeting photothermal therapy. It displayed excellent tumor inhibition efficiency as well as anti-metastasis ability in vivo.

A systematic study of the influence of gold nanorod morphology on cellular toxicity, uptake and light to heat conversion.

Gold nanourchins (AuNUs) associate with lysosomes and lipid droplets (LDs) in glioblastoma cells. AuNUs reorganize F-actin, microtubules and the nuclear lamina. This alters cell signaling and increases cell death. Cell injury is further enhanced by celastrol.

A vibrating nozzle system to produce Au-GO@ZC-DOX nanovesicles possessed enhanced treatment effects for pancreatic cancers.

One-step coelectrodeposition-assisted layer-by-layer assembly was employed for preparing multilayer thin films with a controlled three-dimensional nanoarchitecture and application in an ultrasensitive DNA biosensor.