Zebrafish as a model for assessing the nanotechnology-based approaches in cancer diagnosis, therapy and theranostic: A historical review, trends and challenges.

Nanotechnology-based approaches (NBA) can improve tumor diagnosis and treatment. Thus, zebrafish (Danio rerio) emerge as a model system to investigate antitumoral effects, biodistribution and mechanism of action of nanomaterials (NMs). The current study aimed to summarize and critically analyze the literature concerning the use of zebrafish as an in vivo model for assessing the NBA in diagnosis, therapy and theranostics of cancer. Revised data (n = 95) showed an increasing number of publications in recent years. The main study approach was therapeutic (83.16 %), while diagnosis and theranostics represented 9.47 % and 7.37 %, respectively. 95.8 % used the embryo-larval stage of zebrafish. The most studied NM was the nanoparticles (NPs). Breast cancer, liver and melanoma were the tumors most studied. Overall, NMs can reduce chemotherapeutic drug toxicity, inhibit tumor growth, metastasis and angiogenesis, also promote tumor imaging and tracking. Zebrafish is a suitable emerging model system in cancer nanomedicine research.