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. 2021 Jan 1;11(2):579–601. doi: 10.7150/thno.48811

Table 3.

Summary of tumor-targeted, MRI-traceable nanotheranostics for cancer gene therapy

Imaging probe Targeting strategy In vivo tumor model Gene Purpose of investigation Important outcome(s) Ref
SPIONs
(T2 MRI)
EPPT1 peptide targeting uMUC1 and MPAPs Pancreatic cancer (6606PDA) siPLK1 Evaluate the potential of an siRNA integrated theranostic system targeting PLK1 to treat pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma Significant accumulation of siPLK1-StAv-SPIONs in the tumor site; efficient PLK1 silencing that significantly inhibited tumor growth 88
SPIONs
(T2 MRI)
MT Liver cancer (HepG2) HSV-TK/GCV Develop an MRI-guided, MT agent for hyperthermia-enhanced suicide gene therapy of HCC T2-weighted MRI images demonstrated enhanced gene delivery and magnetic hyperthermia performance of rod-like M-MSNs compared to sphere-like M-MSNs for suicide gene therapy 90
SPIONs
(T2 MRI)
HA targeting CD44 Lung cancer (NSCLC-H1975) Virotherapy (magnetized AAV2) Develop a hypoxia-responsive nanotheranostic agent for tumor virotherapy Specific delivery of AAV2 to the tumor confirmed with MRI; significantly enhanced tumor inhibition through light-triggered virotherapy 93

Abbreviations: AAV2: adeno-associated virus serotype 2; HA: hyaluronic acid; HCC: hepatocellular carcinoma; HSV-TK/GCV: herpes simplex virus thymidine kinase/ganciclovir; M-MSNs: magnetic mesoporous silica nanoparticles; MPAPs: myristoylated polyarginine peptides; MT: magnetic targeting; NSCLCN: non-small- cell lung cancer; PLK1: polo-like kinases; StAv: streptavidin.