Work

Plant-synthesized gold nanotheranostics for photothermal treatment and imaging of breast cancer: Harnessing flavonoids for dual-functionality

Year: 2025

Type: article

Abstract: Breast cancer remains a major global health challenge, driving the need for more precise and less toxic therapeutic strategies. Gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) have emerged as powerful agents for cancer theranostics, offering unique optical properties for photothermal therapy (PTT) and multimodal imaging. In parallel, plant-mediated green synthesis of AuNPs presents an eco-friendly and biocompatible alternative to conventional chemical routes, leveraging phytochemicals, especially flavonoids, as natural reducing and capping agents. Flavonoids, such as quercetin, kaempferol, luteolin, apigenin, and epigallocatechin gallate, not only facilitate nanoparticle formation but also confer intrinsic anticancer bioactivity, thereby enhancing therapeutic efficacy in breast cancer models. This review provides a comprehensive synthesis of advances in plant-synthesized AuNPs and flavonoid-functionalized systems for PTT and imaging in breast cancer. We examine the mechanisms of photothermal conversion, the role of AuNP morphology in optimizing therapeutic outcomes, and the synergistic effects of flavonoid bioactivity. Comparative analyses highlight the superior biocompatibility and dual-functionality of green AuNPs over chemically synthesized counterparts. Moreover, emerging technologies, such as AI-assisted nanoparticle design, stimuli-responsive delivery systems, and hybrid nanocarriers, are poised to address current challenges in reproducibility, scalability, and clinical translation. Plant-synthesized AuNP-flavonoid platforms represent a promising frontier in breast cancer nanotheranostics, with the potential to enhance treatment precision, safety, and patient outcomes. However, systematic toxicological studies, regulatory harmonization, and standardized manufacturing protocols are essential for advancing these innovative systems toward clinical application.

Source: Industrial Crops and Products

DOI: 10.1016/j.indcrop.2025.121718