"
Theranostics," a new concept of medical advances featuring a fusion of therapeutic and diagnostic systems, provides promising prospects in
personalized medicine, especially
cancer. The
theranostics system comprises a novel 89Zr-labeled drug delivery system (DDS), derived from the novel biodegradable polymeric
micelle, "Lactosome" nanoparticles conjugated with specific shortened
IgG variant, and aims to successfully deliver therapeutically effective molecules, such as the apoptosis-inducing
small interfering RNA (
siRNA) intracellularly while offering simultaneous
tumor visualization via PET imaging. A 27 kDa-human
single chain variable fragment (scFv) of
IgG to establish clinically applicable PET imaging and
theranostics in
cancer medicine was fabricated to target
mesothelin (MSLN), a 40 kDa-differentiation-related
cell surface glycoprotein antigen, which is frequently and highly expressed by malignant
tumors. This system coupled with the
cell penetrating peptide (
CPP)-modified and
photosensitizer (e.g., 5, 10, 15, 20-tetrakis (4-aminophenyl)
porphyrin (TPP))-loaded Lactosome particles for photochemical internalized (PCI) driven intracellular
siRNA delivery and the combination of 5-aminolevulinic
acid (ALA)
photodynamic therapy (
PDT) offers a promising nano-
theranostic-based
cancer therapy via its targeted apoptosis-inducing feature. This review focuses on the combined advances in nanotechnology and material sciences utilizing the "89Zr-labeled
CPP and TPP-loaded Lactosome particles" and future directions based on important milestones and recent developments in this platform.