Lung cancer (LC) is the second most prevalent type of cancer and primary cause of mortality among both men and women, worldwide. The most commonly employed diagnostic modalities for LC include chest X-ray (CXR), magnetic-resonance-imaging (MRI), computed tomography (CT-scan), and fused-positron-emitting-tomography-CT (PET-CT). Owing to several limitations associated with the use of conventional diagnostic tools such as radiation burden to the patient, misleading diagnosis ("missed lung cancer"), false staging and low sensitivity and resolution, contemporary diagnostic regimen needed to be employed for screening of LC. In recent decades, nanotechnology-guided interventions have been transpired as emerging nanoimaging probes for detection of LC at advanced stages, while producing signal amplification, better resolution for surface and deep tissue imaging, and enhanced translocation and biodistribution of imaging probes within the cancerous tissues. Besides enormous potential of nanoimaging probes, nanotechnology-based advancements have also been evidenced for superior efficacy for treatment of LC and abolishing pulmonary metastasis (PM). The success of nanotherapeutics is due to their ability to maximise translocation and biodistribution of anti-neoplastic agents into the tumor tissues, improve pharmacokinetic profiles of anti-metastatic agents, optimise target-specific drug delivery, and control release kinetics of encapsulated moieties in target tissues. This review aims to overview and critically discuss the superiority of nanoimaging probes and nanotherapeutics over conventional regimen for early detection of LC and abolishing PM. Current challenges to clinical transition of nanoimaging probes and therapeutic viability of nanotherapeutics for treatment for LC and PM have also been pondered.
[1]Shanxi Med Univ, Hosp 2, Dept Resp & Crit Care Med, Taiyuan 030001, Shanxi, Peoples R China.
[2]Jilin Univ, China Japan Union Hosp, Dept Nephrol, Changchun 130033, Jilin, Peoples R China.
[3]Lincoln Univ Coll, Fac Dent, Dept Pharmacol & Dent Therapeut, Jalan Stadium,SS 7-15, Petaling Jaya 47301, Selangor, Malaysia.
[4]Univ Teknol MARA UiTM Selangor, Fac Pharm, Dept Pharmaceut, Puncak Alam Campus, Bandar Puncak Alam 42300, Selangor, Malaysia.
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