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Review
. 2024 Mar 11;10(6):e27692.
doi: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2024.e27692. eCollection 2024 Mar 30.

Advancing cancer theranostics through biomimetics: A comprehensive review

Kuttiappan Anitha  1 , Santenna Chenchula  2 , Vijayaraj Surendran  3 , Bhatt Shvetank  4 , Parameswar Ravula  5 , Rhythm Milan  5 , Radhika Chikatipalli  6 , Padmavathi R  7
Affiliations
Review

Advancing cancer theranostics through biomimetics: A comprehensive review

Kuttiappan Anitha et al. Heliyon. .

Abstract

Nanotheranostics, especially those employing biomimetic approaches, are of substantial interest for molecular imaging and cancer therapy. The incorporation of diagnostics and therapeutics, known as cancer theranostics, represents a promising strategy in modern oncology. Biomimetics, inspired by nature, offers a multidisciplinary avenue with potential in advancing cancer theranostics. This review comprehensively analyses recent progress in biomimetics-based cancer theranostics, emphasizing its role in overcoming current treatment challenges, with a focus on breast, prostate, and skin cancers. Biomimetic approaches have been explored to address multidrug resistance (MDR), emphasizing their role in immunotherapy and photothermal therapy. The specific areas covered include biomimetic drug delivery systems bypassing MDR mechanisms, biomimetic platforms for immune checkpoint blockade, immune cell modulation, and photothermal tumor ablation. Pretargeting techniques enhancing radiotherapeutic agent uptake are discussed, along with a comprehensive review of clinical trials of global nanotheranostics. This review delves into biomimetic materials, nanotechnology, and bioinspired strategies for cancer imaging, diagnosis, and targeted drug delivery. These include imaging probes, contrast agents, and biosensors for enhanced specificity and sensitivity. Biomimetic strategies for targeted drug delivery involve the design of nanoparticles, liposomes, and hydrogels for site-specific delivery and improved therapeutic efficacy. Overall, this current review provides valuable information for investigators, clinicians, and biomedical engineers, offering insights into the latest biomimetics applications in cancer theranostics. Leveraging biomimetics aims to revolutionize cancer diagnosis, treatment, and patient outcomes.

Keywords: Biomimetics; Breast cancer; Gastric cancer; Lung cancer; Skin cancer; Theranostics.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare the following financial interests/personal relationships which may be considered as potential competing interests:NONE If there are other authors, they declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Schematic overview of theranostics in various cancers.
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
Nanotheranostics employing imaging and therapy techniques.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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