Nanomaterial-Driven Advancements in Early Cancer Detection

Due to the complex and multifactorial nature of cancer, efforts to find a universal cure have shown limited success. Recognizing the crucial importance of early cancer diagnosis in effective cancer management, current efforts are focused on improving the methods for detecting cancer at an early stage. Large-scale studies utilizing multi-OMICs have shown promising results in identifying biomarkers associated with early stage cancerous cells, demonstrating significant advancements in both in vivo and in vitro settings. However, integrating these novel biomarkers in traditional biochemical tests and imaging-based methods has been a major challenge. To address this challenge, nanoparticle-based diagnostics has emerged as a promising solution. This chapter examines the recent breakthroughs in early cancer diagnosis and explores the pivotal role of nanotechnology in developing novel markers and diagnostic tools. We specifically discuss the use of metallic gold nanoparticles, either alone or in combination with other molecules, in the creation of various innovative methods for detecting cancer at an early stage.