Clinical Applications and Future Prospects of Metallic Nanoparticles in Diagnosis and Therapy

Gabriela E Galarza-Arévalo, Myriam P González, Maria P Romero Escuela Politécnica Nacional, Quito, 170525, EcuadorCorrespondence: Maria P Romero, Email [email protected]: Metallic nanoparticles (MNPs) have emerged as versatile platforms for addressing unmet clinical needs in diagnosis, therapy, and theranostics. This review synthesizes recent advances in the clinical application of iron-, gold-, hafnium-, gadolinium-, silver-, copper-, titanium-, and zinc-based nanoparticles across oncology, infection control, biomedical coatings, and diagnostic imaging. In oncology, superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles (SPIONs) have demonstrated a median overall survival of 13.4 months in patients with recurrent glioblastoma and achieved intratumoral temperatures of 42– 48.5 °C during magnetic hyperthermia. Gold–silica nano shells generated tumor-free ablation zones in up to 87.5% of prostate lesions, with oncologic success reported in 73% of treated patients. CYT-6091, a ~27 nm PEGylated gold nanoparticle conjugated with TNF-α, enabled systemic delivery of this cytokine without inducing severe hypotension, showing a substantially improved safety profile compared with free TNF-α. In antimicrobial applications, Nano Silver Fluoride reduced dentin caries progression by more than 30% compared with controls, while copper nanoparticle-reinforced universal adhesives preserved mechanical performance and retention rates over 48 months. Collectively, these findings highlight the capacity of MNPs to integrate diagnostic and therapeutic functions, including MRI/CT contrast enhancement, magnetic hyperthermia, photothermal and photodynamic therapies, and gene delivery. Despite significant progress, challenges related to heterogeneous biodistribution, long-term toxicity, and regulatory approval remain, emphasizing the need for the development of safer and more efficient metallic nanomedicines aligned with emerging clinical demands in personalized medicine.Keywords: metallic nanoparticles, theranostics, cancer nanomedicine, magnetic hyperthermia, antimicrobial nanomaterials, personalized medicine