Engineering hydroxyapatite nanocrystals for cancer nanomedicine through ion substitution: Advances and prospects

Cancer nanomedicine bridges cancer biology and nanotechnology to enhance diagnostic accuracy and therapeutic efficacy across various cancer modalities, ultimately aiming to improve patient outcomes and survival. Numerous nanomaterials have been explored for cancer nanomedicine; however, most suffer from systemic toxicity and severe side effects. Recently, hydroxyapatite (HAp), the primary inorganic component of bones and teeth, has emerged as a promising nanoplatform for cancer diagnosis and treatment, owing to its inherent biocompatibility and excellent biodistribution. Moreover, its capacity for ion substitutions has further expanded its potential, enhancing their existing properties and introducing new functionalities that are beneficial for cancer nanomedicine. With the growing interest in ionic substituted HAp nanocrystals, summarizing significant findings and mapping out the field’s current progress is imperative. This review examines recent literature on their applications in cancer diagnostics and therapeutics, as well as in theranostics. Key advancements were identified and outlined, and insights into prospective opportunities to guide future research were explored. This review highlights the immense potential of ionic substituted HAp nanosystems as a versatile and promising platform, paving the way for the development of safer and more effective nanomedicine strategies.