Metal Nanoclusters for Cancer Imaging and Treatment

Abstract Cancer poses a significant global health challenge, necessitating precise diagnosis and effective therapeutic strategies to improve survival outcomes. Metal nanoclusters (NCs) have emerged as promising candidates for cancer imaging and treatment, attributed to their remarkable cancer‐targeting capabilities, high imaging signal‐to‐noise ratio, potent anti‐cancer activity, efficient in vivo clearance, and superior biocompatibility. In this review, a comprehensive overview of the design and applications of metal NCs for cancer imaging and treatment, focusing on their core–shell designability at the atomic and molecular levels is provided. The unique advantages of metal NCs for cancer imaging and treatment are emphasized, encompassing aspects such as clinical translation, pharmacokinetics, targeted delivery, and biocompatibility. The applications of these metal NCs in cancer imaging, treatment, and imaging‐guided treatment is summarized, focusing on how their core–shell designs and physicochemical properties influence therapeutic efficacy. Finally, a perspective on the impending challenges and promising avenues for the advancement of metal NCs in the realm of cancer imaging and treatment are offered.