Recent Progress on High‐Z Metal‐Based Nanomaterials for Cancer Radiosensitization

Abstract

Comprehensive SummaryRadiotherapy is a mainstay treatment for malignant tumors in clinical practice. However, enhancing radiation damage to tumor cells meanwhile sparing normal tissues is still a great challenge in radiotherapy. Nanomaterials with high atomic number (Z) values are promising radiosensitizers by promoting the radiation energy deposition in irradiated tumor cells, thus enhancing the therapeutic ratio of radiotherapy. In this review, we described the mechanisms of high‐Z element based‐radiosensitizers and systematically summarized the recent progress on high‐Z metal‐based nanomaterials, including high‐Z metal‐based nanoparticles, high‐Z metal‐based nanoscale metal‐organic frameworks and high‐Z metal‐doping nanomaterials. Finally, further potential and challenges in this field were discussed.