Clinical progress in gold nanoparticle (GNP)-mediated photothermal cancer therapy.

Abstract

The field of oncotherapy has always been looking out for alternative treatment methods that have much lesser side effects compared to the currently used therapies that lower down the patients’ quality of life. Gold Nanoparticle [GNP]-mediated photothermal therapies are proving to be a boon as they are both non-invasive and tumour-specific. This review analyses how GNPs can help right from the beginning, that is, the diagnosis of cancer, to the end, that is, effective ablation of cancerous cells. Their ability to function as photothermal absorbers, targeted drug deliverers, and inducers of photoimmunity are reviewed in detail, bringing out the current clinical progress in each of those areas. Even though they stand to be a promising solution for cancer therapy, it is necessary to understand their biodegradation and in vivo toxicity before their extensive clinical usage.