External-stimuli responsive systems for cancer theranostic

• Main Authors: Jianhui Yao, Jingxian Feng, Jun Chen
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier 2016-10-01
• Series: Asian Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences
• Subjects: Nanotechnology; Stimuli-responsive; Light; Magnetic field; Ultrasound; Theranostics
• Online Access: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1818087616300381

The upsurge of novel nanomaterials and nanotechnologies has inspired the researchers who are striving for designing safer and more efficient drug delivery systems for cancer therapy. Stimuli responsive nanomaterial offered an alternative to design controllable drug delivery system on account of its spatiotemporally controllable properties. Additionally, external stimuli (light, magnetic field and ultrasound) could develop into theranostic applications for personalized medicine use because of their unique characteristics. In this review, we give a brief overview about the significant progresses and challenges of certain external-stimuli responsive systems that have been extensively investigated in drug delivery and theranostics within the last few years.