Oxidative cues as theranostic switches for the ROS-responsive Nanotheranostics in oxidative stress-driven diseases

Nanotheranostics (NTs) are nanoscale systems that combine disease diagnosis and targeted therapy. They often respond to specific signals, such as reactive oxygen species (ROS). These platforms leverage elevated ROS levels associated with diseases, such as neurodegeneration, cancer, cardiovascular disorders, and inflammation, to control drug release and support targeted imaging. In this review, we have described the different roles of ROS in neurological disorders (Alzheimer's disease), cancer, cardiovascular diseases (including atherosclerosis and myocardial infarction), and joint inflammation (arthritis). We also discuss the relative applications of ROS-responsive NTs. By integrating diagnosis and treatment, ROS-responsive NTs can improve treatment outcomes, reduce side effects, and help clinicians track disease progression and therapeutic response in real time. Advanced NTs are sensitive to additional triggers, such as pH, thermal, and hypoxic conditions. This sensitivity improves accuracy and outcomes for ROS-driven diseases. This strategy shows promise for precision medicine by using multifunctional, stimulus-activated nanomedicines to treat diseases driven by oxidative stress. This review summarizes recent advances, focusing on nanomaterial composition and chemistry for ROS response or scavenging to improve diagnosis and treatment. Finally, we explore current advances and perspectives on ROS-based NTs across ROS-driven diseases.