In recent years, nanobiomedicine has emerged as a transformative approach
to addressing challenges in diagnosis and therapy. Nanoparticles can act as a vector for
drugs and genes in the treatment of various diseases. Their high surface area-to-volume
ratio is a positive factor, as it allows the drug- or gene-conjugated nanoparticles to
traverse cell membranes and access intracellular targets. Functionalized nanoparticles
can target specific cells using receptor-specific recognition, thereby minimizing offtarget effects. Degradation of drugs is common in conventional delivery methods, but
nanoparticles help prevent this by encapsulating or shielding the drug formulations. In
addition to the aforementioned benefits, nanoparticles can be used to integrate therapy
and diagnostics into a single platform, known as theranostics, enabling precise
treatment and monitoring of diseases. Both imaging agents and therapeutic molecules
(drugs, DNA, and RNA) can be carried by nanoparticles, whose multifunctionality
enables simultaneous disease imaging and treatment, reducing the need for separate
interventions. Currently, studies are being conducted worldwide on the theranostic
potential of nanoparticles under various conditions, ranging from cancer therapy and
treatment of genetic disorders to vaccine development, which speaks volumes about
their capabilities. In this chapter, we review various nanoparticles used for drug and
gene delivery alongside commonly utilized imaging techniques for theranostic
applications.
Keywords: Biosensors, DNA, Gene therapy, Nanobiomedicine, Nanomaterials, Point-of-care devices, RNA detection, Targeted drug delivery.
