Near-infrared-mediated theranostics of colorectal cancer: Recent advances and perspectives

Colorectal cancer, as the third major cause of cancer-related deaths worldwide, remains consistently high lethality, posing a serious challenge to human health. Conventional therapeutic strategies, including chemotherapy, radiotherapy and surgery, often suffer from the inherent side effects due to the complex physiological characteristics of the intestinal environment. Near-infrared (NIR) light-activated luminescent nanomaterials offer unique advantages such as high spatial resolution of imaging, deep penetration to the tissue, easy functionality, which have recently been widely used for colon cancer theranostics. This review delves into the recent advancements in the realm of NIR-mediated colon cancer nano-theranostics, underscoring the distinctive merits of these strategies. Additionally, it critically examines the existing challenges and anticipates future opportunities within this burgeoning field. By presenting a comprehensive overview of the latest developments, this review aims to equip researchers with timely and pertinent information, thereby fostering the vibrant growth and innovation of NIR-mediated nanomedicine.