Utilization of nanotechnology in targeted radionuclide cancer therapy: monotherapy, combined therapy and radiosensitization

Abstract The rapid progress of nanomedicine field has a great influence on the different tumor therapeutic trends. It achieves a potential targeting of the therapeutic agent to the tumor site with neglectable exposure of the normal tissue. In nuclear medicine, nanocarriers have been employed for targeted delivery of therapeutic radioisotopes to the malignant tissues. This systemic radiotherapy is employed to overcome the external radiation therapy drawbacks. This review overviews studies concerned with investigation of different nanoparticles as promising carriers for targeted radiotherapy. It discusses the employment of different nanovehicles for achievement of the synergistic effect of targeted radiotherapy with other tumor therapeutic modalities such as hyperthermia and photodynamic therapy. Radiosensitization utilizing different nanosensitizer loaded nanoparticles has also been discussed briefly as one of the nanomedicine approach in radiotherapy.