Figueiredo, André Q.Rodrigues, Ana Carolina FélixFernandes, NatanaelDiogo, Duarte de MeloCorreia, I.J.Moreira, André2023-01-032023-01-032022-09-13Figueiredo, A.Q.; Rodrigues, C.F.; Fernandes, N.; de Melo-Diogo, D.; Correia, I.J.; Moreira, A.F. Metal-Polymer Nanoconjugates Application in Cancer Imaging and Therapy. Nanomaterials 2022, 12, 3166. https://doi.org/10.3390/ nano12183166http://hdl.handle.net/10400.6/12577Metallic-based nanoparticles present a unique set of physicochemical properties that support their application in different fields, such as electronics, medical diagnostics, and therapeutics. Particularly, in cancer therapy, the plasmonic resonance, magnetic behavior, X-ray attenuation, and radical oxygen species generation capacity displayed by metallic nanoparticles make them highly promising theragnostic solutions. Nevertheless, metallic-based nanoparticles are often associated with some toxicological issues, lack of colloidal stability, and establishment of off-target interactions. Therefore, researchers have been exploiting the combination of metallic nanoparticles with other materials, inorganic (e.g., silica) and/or organic (e.g., polymers). In terms of biological performance, metalpolymer conjugation can be advantageous for improving biocompatibility, colloidal stability, and tumor specificity. In this review, the application of metallic-polymer nanoconjugates/nanohybrids as a multifunctional all-in-one solution for cancer therapy will be summarized, focusing on the physicochemical properties that make metallic nanomaterials capable of acting as imaging and/or therapeutic agents. Then, an overview of the main advantages of metal-polymer conjugation as well as the most common structural arrangements will be provided. Moreover, the application of metallic-polymer nanoconjugates/nanohybrids made of gold, iron, copper, and other metals in cancer therapy will be discussed, in addition to an outlook of the current solution in clinical trials.engMetallic nanoparticlesMetal-polymer nanoconjugatesCancerPhotothermal effectjournal article10.3390/nano12183166