Recent Progress in Nanotheranostic Medicine

Issues: In the area of regenerative medicine paradigm, theranostic nanomedicine is emerging as a promising prototype. It has the advantage of both imaging and therapeutic functions in the platform of personalized medicine. Recently scientists have developed smart and hybrid forms of biological molecules, as carriers for various applications in diagnostics and therapeutics. Major Advances: We reviewed the advances on nanotheranostic materials. Interactions among the particles in carrier payload have critical roles in the efficacy of a drug in clinical translation. Cancer and other degenerative diseases have remained indomitable problems for scientists and doctors due to their diverse nature and etiology. Nanotheranostic agents are now emerging as prudent tools in the detection of diseases, especially cancer. In recent years, the utilization of inorganic particles like iron oxide, gold, and carbon dots has gained massive attention in imaging technologies like MRI, PET, and SPECT. However, cumulative information on nanotheranostic agents, such as nature of materials, cell interaction, toxicity, mode of action at cellular levels, and effects on microenvironmental milieu, are required. Finally, we discuss the progress of different types of theranostic agents, their modes of biodistribution, pharmacokinetic properties, and chemocellular interactions.