article · Journal of Drug Delivery Science and Technology
Conventional cancer therapies such as chemotherapy and radiation often cause significant adverse effects, reducing their effectiveness and patient adherence. Metal-based nanoparticles present an alternative approach by combining therapeutic and diagnostic capabilities within oncology. Materials based on metals and metal oxides, particularly silver, iron, and gold, alongside zinc, copper, titanium, and others, possess distinct physicochemical properties useful for imaging and targeted therapy. Modifying the surface properties of magnetic nanoparticles enhances their bioavailability and tumour targeting through mechanisms such as the enhanced permeability and retention effect. At the cellular level, these nanoparticles suppress cancer development by triggering programmed cell death, disrupting signalling pathways, and generating reactive oxygen species that destroy malignant cells. In addition, the methods used to synthesise these materials, whether through chemical routes, green approaches, or biosynthesis, substantially influence their physical characteristics and therapeutic performance.
Conventional cancer treatments often lead to severe side effects that limit their overall success. Nanoparticles engineered from metals and metal oxides can deliver therapies directly to tumours while providing diagnostic imaging, potentially lowering toxicity and improving patient outcomes. Understanding how these particles interact with cells and how synthesis methods shape their behaviour is essential for creating safer, more precise oncology interventions.
Metal-based nanoparticles could enable dual-action cancer theranostics, offering integrated imaging and targeted drug delivery tools for healthcare providers and pharmaceutical developers. However, because this work evaluates underlying biological mechanisms and synthesis techniques across a broad review of materials, the research represents early-stage development. Substantial formulation optimisation and regulatory safety assessments will be required before these nanomaterials reach clinical application or market readiness.
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Conventional cancer treatments, including chemotherapy, radiation, and surgery, can produce significant adverse effects, hence limiting their therapeutic efficacy and compliance among patients. Conversely, nanotechnology has arisen as a viable alternative, offering innovative prospects for therapeutic and diagnostic uses in cancer treatment. Metal-based nanoparticles (MNPs), due to their unique physical, chemical, and physicochemical characteristics, have demonstrated considerable potential in tackling numerous issues in cancer therapy. This review highlights that among the diverse array of MNPs examined, silver (Ag), iron (Fe), and gold (Au) nanoparticles have been thoroughly investigated by researchers globally for their distinctive properties in imaging and therapy. Moreover, the research emphasises that the functionalisation of magnetic nanoparticles and altering their surface characteristics can markedly improve their efficacy by augmenting tumor targeting and bioavailability via processes like the increased permeability and retention (EPR) effect. This review investigates the molecular processes by which MNPs impede cancer proliferation, encompassing their functions in inducing apoptosis, altering cellular signalling pathways, and producing reactive oxygen species (ROS) that result in cancer cell mortality. The review also analyses the influence of synthesis methods-chemical, green, or biosynthesis on the characteristics of MNPs. Significant instances of metallic and metal oxide nanoparticles, including iron (Fe), gold (Au), zinc (Zn), silver (Ag), copper (Cu), cerium (Ce), titanium (Ti), barium (Ba), nickel (Ni), magnesium (Mg), bismuth (Bi), and calcium (Ca), are examined, highlighting their functions in imaging and therapeutic applications.
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DOI: 10.1016/j.jddst.2025.106622
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