Recent advances in chiral nanomaterials for tumor theranostics

Abstract

Chiral nanomaterials demonstrate unprecedented potential in tumor theranostics due to their unique optical activity, bio-recognition capability, and potential for modulating cellular behavior. This review systematically summarizes the latest research progress in chiral nanomaterials for tumor diagnosis and therapy. First, it elaborates on the primary construction strategies for amplifying molecular chirality to the nanoscale. Subsequently, it focuses on the applications of chiral nanomaterials in tumor imaging. Furthermore, the review summarizes novel tumor biomarker detection methods based on chiral nanomaterials, which utilize sensitive changes in chiroptical signals for the quantitative analysis of trace biomarkers. Regarding tumor therapy, the review details advanced strategies employing chiral nanomaterials in immunotherapy, chemodynamic therapy, photodynamic/sonodynamic therapy, and intelligent drug delivery systems. Finally, the review points out the current challenges and perspectives of chiral nanomaterials in tumor theranostics. This review aims to clarify the core value of chirality as a key design dimension in enhancing the precision and efficacy of tumor theranostics and highlights the potential of chiral nanomaterials for next-generation cancer therapy.