Development of Hybrid Nanoplatforms for Theranostic Applications

Abstract

There is a need of new approaches in which cancer and other diseases are adressed. These new methods must be capable to reduce doses, treatment times, and damage to healty tissues. Furthermore, it is desirable that these systems function as diagnosis and imaging agents, so the evolution of the disease can be visualized in real time and decisions about treatment regimes can be made as soon as possible. The combination of therapeutic and diagnostic/imaging agents in one system creates a new concept called theranostics; hence, a theranostic system can treat the disease and, at the same time, work as a diagnostic and imaging agent. The objective of this thesis has been the synthesis, characterization and evaluation of different multifunctional theranostic nanoplatforms that can be applied in cancer treatment, diagnosis and imaging. The processes used to prepare them have involved low energy consumption and most of the materials were biocompatible. The results obtained from their physicochemical characterization and performance in vitro and in vivo suggest that these nanoplatforms could be used as anticancer treatments with more effective results, allowing lower doses, treatment times, and combined therapies applied locally and simultaneously.