Metal-based Nanomaterials for Tumor Diagnosis and Therapy

With the convergence of nanoscience and biomedicine, metal-based nanomaterials have garnered increasing attention for their versatile applications in tumor diagnosis and therapy. Metal-based nanomaterials are derived from metal-containing compounds, exhibiting unique physical and chemical properties that make them ideal candidates for various imaging and therapeutic modalities. Due to their excellent optical, magnetic and electronic properties, these metal-based nanomaterials strongly span tumor diagnostic imaging in multiple modalities, including fluorescence imaging, photoacoustic imaging, computed tomography, magnetic resonance imaging, etc. As for the therapeutic benefits, the employment of metal-based nanomaterials could provide highly effective therapies, such as drug delivery, photo-activated therapy, chemodynamic therapy, immunotherapy, gene therapy, etc. To meet the needs, metal-based nanomaterials can be further combined or modified with targeting ligands, organic and inorganic materials to construct multifunctional nanoprobes for multimodal imaging and therapies, realizing personalized tumor theranostics.

While the potential of metal-based nanomaterials in tumor diagnosis and therapy is immense, there are still challenges to overcome, including biocompatibility, safety, and scalability. This research topic mainly focuses on optimizing nanomaterial synthesis and chemical modification, improving their targeting capabilities, biocompatibility, imaging and therapeutic effects as well as understanding their metabolic processes and pathways in biological systems. This topic aims to bring together recent research and investigation on metal–based nanomaterials in tumor diagnosis and therapy, discussing potential benefits, but also limitations and biosafety concerns for their biomedical applications. This topic can foster research and development in this field, ultimately promising to contribute to the improvement of human health.

In this research topic, we aim to highlight recent advances and developments in metal-based nanomaterials and their theranostic applications. We cordially welcome investigators to submit articles (original research and reviews) that describe the latest techniques in nanomaterials synthesis, characterization, and biomedical theranostic applications. Potential topics include, but are not limited to:

• Synthesis and characterization of metal-based nanomaterials

• Biocompatibility and toxicity of metal-based nanomaterials

• Recent developments of metal-based nanomaterials in imaging systems, such as optical imaging, CT, MRI, etc.

• Advances in metal-based nanomaterials for theranostic applications

• Novel metal-based nanomaterials for radiation protection applications