Recent advances in bone-targeting nanoparticles for biomedical applications

Abstract

As the hardest connective tissue, bone tissue is an important part of the human body. However, with the increasing average age of the global population, the incidence of bone-related diseases has increased significantly. In view of the limitations of clinical diagnosis and treatment of bone-related diseases, nanomaterials that can be applied to bone-related diseases have attracted extensive attention. Among them, nanoparticles with the ability to specifically target bone tissues have become a research hotspot. Herein, we review advances in bone-targeting nanoparticles. First, we classify the most common bone-targeting functional groups and discuss the corresponding bone-targeting mechanisms. Then, we enumerate the existing types of bone-targeting nanoparticles and outline the latest research progress. Finally, we summarize the applications of bone-targeting nanoparticles for the treatment of cancer and osteoporosis, and for the diagnosis of bone-related diseases. This review uncovers the potential use of bone-targeting nanoparticles for the diagnosis and treatment of bone-related diseases and provides guidance for future research in this field.