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“9.61x6.69” b2815 Tissue Engineering and Nanotheranostics

Chapter 8

Multifunctional Nanomaterials

for Cancer Theranostics

Shun Shen

The Institute for Translational Nanomedicine

Shanghai East Hospital, Tongji University School of Medicine

Shanghai, China

Abstract: Nanomaterials with different morphologies and functions

have been widely developed. Among them, the nanotheranostic

systems designed and simultaneously used for therapeutics and

diagnostics draw particular attention. To achieve the multifunction­

ality in one nanoformulation, typically four components are included:

nanocarriers, targeting ligand, imaging domain and therapeutics.

This review is aimed at introducing some examples of possibilities

for the different components in a nanotheranostic system.

Keywords: Theranostics, nanocarriers, therapeutic drug, targeting

ligand, imaging domain.

1. Introduction

Since the last century, cancer has become a major threat to the survival

of mankind.^1 China has nearly 20% of the world’s population, but it has

22% of new cancer cases and 27% of the world’s cancer deaths.2–4

Cancer has become a serious threat to the health of our people, the