Application of nanotechnology in the early diagnosis and comprehensive treatment of gastrointestinal cancer

Abstract

Gastrointestinal cancer (GIC) is a common malignant tumour of the digestive system that seriously threatens human health. Due to the unique organ structure of the gastrointestinal tract, endoscopic and MRI diagnoses of GIC in the clinic share the problem of low sensitivity. The ineffectiveness of drugs and high recurrence rates in surgical and drug therapies are the main factors that impact the curative effect in GIC patients. Therefore, there is an urgent need to improve diagnostic accuracies and treatment efficiencies. Nanotechnology is widely used in the diagnosis and treatment of GIC by virtue of its unique size advantages and extensive modifiability. In the diagnosis and treatment of clinical GIC, surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) nanoparticles, electrochemical nanobiosensors and magnetic nanoparticles, intraoperative imaging nanoparticles, drug delivery systems and other multifunctional nanoparticles have successfully improved the diagnosis and treatment of GIC. It is important to further improve the coordinated development of nanotechnology and GIC diagnosis and treatment. Herein, starting from the clinical diagnosis and treatment of GIC, this review summarizes which nanotechnologies have been applied in clinical diagnosis and treatment of GIC in recent years, and which cannot be applied in clinical practice. We also point out which challenges must be overcome by nanotechnology in the development of the clinical diagnosis and treatment of GIC and discuss how to quickly and safely combine the latest nanotechnology developed in the laboratory with clinical applications. Finally, we hope that this review can provide valuable reference information for researchers who are conducting cross-research on GIC and nanotechnology.

Keywords: Gastrointestinal cancer, Nanotechnology, Nanoparticles, Early diagnosis, Targeted therapy, Surgical navigation, Tumour imaging.

Fig. 1

The application of nanotechnology in the diagnosis and treatment of gastrointestinal cancer

Fig. 2

Schematic diagram of Raman imaging system used in parallel with SERS Nanoparticle and white light endoscope [63]

Fig. 3

An electrochemical biosensor based on functional composite nanofibers detects k-RAS gene schematics through multi-signal amplification strategy [73]

Fig. 4

Nanotechnology improves MRI imaging efficiency. Schematic illustration of the synthesis of 800ZW–SPION@dSiO2–YY146 (A) and Series of images shows T2-weighted MR images obtained at a certain point in time on the 11.7 T system (B) [87]

Fig. 5

The schematics of multimodal PET and NIRF imaging and real-time NIRF intra-operation based on extracellular vesicles from adipose-derived stem cells [99]

Fig. 6

FSN-positive lesions were proved adenomatous polyps during wide-field NIRF imaging in a human-scale model of colorectal carcinogenesis − the APC1311/ + porcine model [114]

Fig. 7

Developed a novel ES-targeted PEGylated liposome for delivery of oxaliplatin to be used to treat estrogen receptor positive gastric cancer [160]

Fig. 8

A MUC1Apt-based targeted system for the delivery of DOX-loaded SPION/PVD (SPION/PVD/MUC1Apt/DOX), capable of providing MRI images and preventing cancer cell growth [178]

Fig. 9

Chitosan NPs encapsulating both photothermal (IR780) and photodynamic 5-ALAreagents lead to photothermally enhanced photodynamic effects [182]