Silver Nanoparticles for Enhanced Cancer Theranostics: In Vitro and In Vivo Perspectives

Silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) have attracted great attention in cancer theranostics due to their extraordinary physiochemical and biological properties. This review discusses a large number of papers and summarizes the recent applications of AgNPs in cancer theranostics from the following five perspectives: (1) desirable features of AgNPs for theranostic applications, (2) synthesis of AgNPs by physical, chemical, and biological processes, (3) applications of AgNPs in cancer theranostics in vitro, (4) applications of AgNPs in cancer theranostics in vivo, and (5) nanotoxicity of AgNPs. Furthermore, some views are discussed that concern the synthetic challenges, toxicity, and clinical translation of AgNPs and the future development of multifunctional theranostic platforms. Overall, the historical developments and recent applications of AgNPs confirm their important role in the cancer field. It is strongly believed that AgNPs will open a new route toward cancer theranostics in the near future.