Self-Monitoring Theranostic Nanomaterials for Biomedical Imaging and Cancer Therapy: Real-Time Visualization of Biodistribution, Payload Release, and Therapeutic Response
5 affiliations
- 1Department of Chemistry and Bioscience, Kumoh National Institute of Technology, 61 Daehak-ro, Gumi 39177, Republic of Korea
- 2Center for Bio-Healthcare Materials, Bio-Convergence Materials R&D Division, Korea Institute of Ceramic Engineering and Technology, 202 Osongsaengmyeong 1-ro, Osong-eup, Heungdeok-gu, Cheongju 28160, Republic of Korea
- 3Department of Applied Bioengineering, Graduate School of Convergence Science and Technology, Seoul National University, Seoul 08826, Republic of Korea
- 4Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Yonsei University, 50 Yonsei-ro, Seodaemun-gu, Seoul 03722, Republic of Korea
- 5Department of Biomedical Engineering, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL 60208, USA
Abstract
Theranostic nanomedicines integrate therapeutic delivery with diagnostic imaging, but many conventional platforms primarily visualize nanocarrier localization and provide limited information on whether the therapeutic payload has been released, the intended treatment mechanism has been activated, or a meaningful biological response has occurred. Self-monitoring theranostic nanomedicines have emerged as functionally informative platforms capable of reporting their own biodistribution, biological fate, payload release, therapeutic activation, and downstream response in real time or through longitudinal imaging. This review summarizes the conceptual framework and design principles of self-monitoring nanomedicine, including always-on and activatable probes, Förster resonance energy transfer, self-quenching and dequenching mechanisms, ratiometric sensing, environment-responsive contrast agents, and multimodal imaging. Major imaging modalities, including fluorescence, magnetic resonance, photoacoustics, positron emission tomography, single-photon emission computed tomography, computed tomography, and ultrasound imaging, are discussed with emphasis on their respective capabilities and limitations for monitoring nanomedicine performance. Representative studies demonstrate the visualization of systemic biodistribution, target-site accumulation, carrier disassembly, drug and nucleic-acid release, photothermal and photodynamic activation, gene and RNA activity, oxidative stress, immune modulation, apoptosis, and pathogen clearance. Particular emphasis is placed on cancer theranostics, where self-monitoring nanomaterials can integrate tumor imaging with the assessment of intratumoral delivery, payload release, therapeutic activation, and early treatment response. Broader applications in inflammatory and immune-related diseases and infectious diseases further illustrate the general applicability of these monitoring principles beyond cancer. Despite substantial progress, clinical translation remains limited by ambiguous signal interpretation, insufficient quantitative validation, biological safety concerns, manufacturing complexity, and regulatory challenges. Future development should prioritize mechanistically defined and clinically actionable signals, orthogonal validation, standardized reporting, biodegradable and clearable materials, reproducible manufacturing, and compatibility with established imaging workflows. Self-monitoring theranostic nanomedicines may ultimately enable the transition from image-guided drug delivery to feedback-guided, adaptive, and personalized precision therapy.
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BibTeX
@article{choi2026selfmonitoring,
title = {{Self-Monitoring Theranostic Nanomaterials for Biomedical Imaging and Cancer Therapy: Real-Time Visualization of Biodistribution, Payload Release, and Therapeutic Response}},
author = {Chanju Choi and Dongseong Seo and Jonghyun Park and Dongmin Yu and Sihyun Song and Sohyeon Yu and Jeongmin Shin and Simseok A. Yuk and Daekyung Sung and Hyungjun Kim},
journal = {Nanomaterials},
year = {2026},
month = oct,
doi = {10.3390/nano16201309},
url = {https://www.mdpi.com/2079-4991/16/20/1309},
note = {CC BY 4.0},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Self-Monitoring Theranostic Nanomaterials for Biomedical Imaging and Cancer Therapy: Real-Time Visualization of Biodistribution, Payload Release, and Therapeutic Response
AU - Chanju Choi
AU - Dongseong Seo
AU - Jonghyun Park
AU - Dongmin Yu
AU - Sihyun Song
AU - Sohyeon Yu
AU - Jeongmin Shin
AU - Simseok A. Yuk
AU - Daekyung Sung
AU - Hyungjun Kim
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/10/01
JO - Nanomaterials
DO - 10.3390/nano16201309
UR - https://www.mdpi.com/2079-4991/16/20/1309
AB - Theranostic nanomedicines integrate therapeutic delivery with diagnostic imaging, but many conventional platforms primarily visualize nanocarrier localization and provide limited information on whether the therapeutic payload has been released, the intended treatment mechanism has been activated, or a meaningful biological response has occurred. Self-monitoring theranostic nanomedicines have emerged as functionally informative platforms capable of reporting their own biodistribution, biological fate, payload release, therapeutic activation, and downstream response in real time or through longitudinal imaging. This review summarizes the conceptual framework and design principles of self-monitoring nanomedicine, including always-on and activatable probes, Förster resonance energy transfer, self-quenching and dequenching mechanisms, ratiometric sensing, environment-responsive contrast agents, and multimodal imaging. Major imaging modalities, including fluorescence, magnetic resonance, photoacoustics, positron emission tomography, single-photon emission computed tomography, computed tomography, and ultrasound imaging, are discussed with emphasis on their respective capabilities and limitations for monitoring nanomedicine performance. Representative studies demonstrate the visualization of systemic biodistribution, target-site accumulation, carrier disassembly, drug and nucleic-acid release, photothermal and photodynamic activation, gene and RNA activity, oxidative stress, immune modulation, apoptosis, and pathogen clearance. Particular emphasis is placed on cancer theranostics, where self-monitoring nanomaterials can integrate tumor imaging with the assessment of intratumoral delivery, payload release, therapeutic activation, and early treatment response. Broader applications in inflammatory and immune-related diseases and infectious diseases further illustrate the general applicability of these monitoring principles beyond cancer. Despite substantial progress, clinical translation remains limited by ambiguous signal interpretation, insufficient quantitative validation, biological safety concerns, manufacturing complexity, and regulatory challenges. Future development should prioritize mechanistically defined and clinically actionable signals, orthogonal validation, standardized reporting, biodegradable and clearable materials, reproducible manufacturing, and compatibility with established imaging workflows. Self-monitoring theranostic nanomedicines may ultimately enable the transition from image-guided drug delivery to feedback-guided, adaptive, and personalized precision therapy.
SN - 2079-4991
ER -