Nanotechnology: a promising method for oral cancer detection and diagnosis

Abstract

Oral cancer is a common and aggressive cancer with high morbidity, mortality, and recurrence rate globally. Early detection is of utmost importance for cancer prevention and disease management. Currently, tissue biopsy remains the gold standard for oral cancer diagnosis, but it is invasive, which may cause patient discomfort. The application of traditional noninvasive methods-such as vital staining, exfoliative cytology, and molecular imaging-is limited by insufficient sensitivity and specificity. Thus, there is an urgent need for exploring noninvasive, highly sensitive, and specific diagnostic techniques. Nano detection systems are known as new emerging noninvasive strategies that bring the detection sensitivity of biomarkers to nano-scale. Moreover, compared to current imaging contrast agents, nanoparticles are more biocompatible, easier to synthesize, and able to target specific surface molecules. Nanoparticles generate localized surface plasmon resonances at near-infrared wavelengths, providing higher image contrast and resolution. Therefore, using nano-based techniques can help clinicians to detect and better monitor diseases during different phases of oral malignancy. Here, we review the progress of nanotechnology-based methods in oral cancer detection and diagnosis.

Keywords: Biomarker detection; Molecular imaging; Nanotechnology; Oral cancer.

Fig. 1

The application of nanotechnology for in vitro and in vivo bioimaging of oral cancer

Fig. 2

Representation of the magnetic core–shell hybrid nanoparticles for receptor targeted MRI (Reprinted with permission from [59]. Copyright 2017 Journal of Colloid and Interface Science)

Fig. 3

Representation of the photoacoustic imaging using anti-EGFR antibody conjugated molecularly activated MAPS. a A schematic of the EGFR-targeted MAPS; b optical spectra obtained hyperspectral dark-field microscopy; c, f cancer cells in the absence of gold nanoparticles; d, g cells in the presence of nonspecific AuNPs; e, h cells labeled with MAPS (Reprinted with permission from [77]. Copyright 2014 Cancer Research)

Fig. 4

Graphical representation of the SERS active gold nanoparticles for oral cancer cell HSC-3 imaging. a synthetic scheme of Raman dye (44DP)-coded Au-NNPs using four different kinds of DNA-AuNPs as core particles. b the solution color and HR-TEM image of 44DP-coded Au-NNPs. c, d Raman spectra of 44DP-coded Au-NNP solution prepared from four different spacer DNA with an excitation of 633 (c) and 785 nm (d) (Reprinted with permission from [89]. Copyright 2015 Nano Letters)

Fig. 5

Schematic illustration of surface modification, bioconjugation, and theranostic application of Ag₂Se QDs coupled with cetuximab (Reprinted with permission from [117]. Copyright 2017 Small)

Fig. 6

The pros and cons of different nanotechnology for bioimaging and biomarker detection of oral cancer