Functional inorganic nanomaterials for optical cancer theranostics

Optical diagnosis and treatment have paved the way for real-time, invasive, and efficient diagnosis and treatment of tumors. Functional nanomaterials, with their exceptional and precisely controllable optical properties, hold immense promise for various applications, including early tumor detection, interventional therapy, and prognosis prediction. In this paper, we present a comprehensive review of ongoing research endeavors focused on the development of functional inorganic nanomaterials for cancer detection, biosensing, and phototherapy. The integration of multifunctional inorganic nanomaterials with desirable optical properties has the potential to enable simultaneous achievement of early tumor diagnosis, real-time monitoring, and image-guided treatment. These nanomaterials possess tunable physical properties, allowing for innovative research directions and solutions in the diagnosis and treatment of major clinical diseases.