Noble metal nanoparticles in oral cancer: advances in diagnosis and therapeutic applications – a review

Abstract

Oral cancer is one of the major health issues confronting the world nowadays. The restrictions of conventional instruments highlight the demand for novel approaches such as nanotechnology, despite the availability of conventional diagnostic routes and standard treatment modalities (e.g. chemotherapy and radiotherapy). Noble metal nanoparticles (NPs), counting gold (Au), silver (Ag), and platinum group metals (PGMs), have garnered significant consideration for their role in early cancer detection, real-time monitoring, and advanced therapeutic approaches. This review provides a comprehensive overview of recent advancements in the application of noble metal nanoparticles (NPs) for oral cancer diagnosis and treatment, with a primary emphasis on the research published between 2014 and 2025. The review covered the role of different noble metals in oral cancer treatment, encompassing metal-based chemotherapy, photothermal therapy, and related emerging strategies. Besides, the review summarizes the mechanisms of action of noble metal NPs in oral cancer therapy, addressing critical pathways such as metal uptake and efflux, oxidative stress-induced DNA damage, and detoxification. Furthermore, this review explores essential factors in nanoparticle synthesis, emphasizing the relationship between NPs characteristics and their effectiveness in cancer applications. A thorough discussion of the most common synthesis methods for noble metal NPs and their relevance to cancer therapy is also provided. This review stresses the challenges for promising applications, including nanoparticle stability, large-scale production, and clinical implementation. Gold nanoparticles are proposed as precise photothermal and drug delivery applications, while silver nanoparticles offer cytotoxic and antimicrobial assets. Platinum-based nanostructures augment chemotherapy results, and palladium nanoparticles contribute to photodynamic and catalytic therapeutic strategies. The review highlights the necessity for further clinical trials to optimize the efficiency and biocompatibility of noble metal nanoparticles, identifying key knowledge gaps which present important areas for future research and development.