## 3 Results
### Multifunctional Nanoparticles for Therapy and Imaging
#### 3.1.3 Theranostic Nanoparticles  
Theranostic nanoparticles are multifunctional platforms that combine therapeutic and diagnostic capabilities within a single system [44]. These nanoparticles deliver therapeutic agents while simultaneously providing imaging feedback on treatment efficacy.  
The theranostic delivery-based strategy has emerged as a promising approach for managing liver cancer. This method integrates therapeutic agents--such as chemotherapy drugs, genetic materials, peptides, and proteins--into specialized nanocarriers. Alongside these therapeutic components, diagnostic elements are incorporated to enhance imaging and detection. Commonly used diagnostic agents include gadolinium, radionuclides, QDs, fluorescent dyes, superparamagnetic iron oxides, and dense elements like iodine. These agents support various imaging modalities, including optical imaging, MRI, and CT, offering a comprehensive solution for both treatment and diagnosis [7]. NPs loaded with both a chemotherapeutic drug and a contrast agent enable real-time monitoring of drug release and tumor response.  
A schematic overview of the major types of theranostic nanoplatforms, their imaging modalities, and ligand-based targeting strategies is presented in Figure 3, highlighting the integration of therapeutic and diagnostic components within a single nanoparticle system [44].  
This integration of diagnosis and therapy holds great promise for personalized medicine, where treatment can be tailored based on individual patient responses.  
Table 2 provides a summary of various nanoparticle classifications used in diagnostic or theranostic applications, highlighting the diagnostic agents incorporated, experimental models utilized, techniques employed for detection or monitoring, and reported outcomes in terms of efficacy.  
Figure 3: Theranostic applications of nanomaterials. Reproduced with permission from [PERSON] et al. [44].  
\begin{table}
\begin{tabular}{p{42.7 pt} p{42.7 pt} p{42.7 pt} p{42.7 pt} p{42.7 pt} p{42.7 pt} p{42.7 pt}} \hline \hline
**Nanoparticle Classification** & **Application Type** & **Diagnostic Agent** & **Model** & **Technique** & **Efficacy Outcomes** & **Reference** \\ \hline Lipid-coated iron oxide nanoparticles (GPC@IR783- (Superpara- \(\mathrm{Fe_{3}O_{4}}\)) & & IR-783 (NIR fluorescent dye) + \(\mathrm{Fe_{3}O_{4}}\) (superpara- \(\mathrm{Fe_{3}O_{4}}\)) & In vitro: HepG2 cells; In vivo: rats (normal, fatty liver, cirrhosis, HCC) (Preclinical study) & NIR fluorescence imaging; T\({}_{2}\)-weighted MRI & Higher tumor uptake; improved MRI contrast; enhanced tumor signal & [45] \\ \hline Hybrid magnetic-metallic metallic nanoparticle (\(\mathrm{Fe_{3}O_{4}}\)-Au) & & & In vitro: HepG2 cells; In vivo: rats (normal, fatty liver, cirrhosis, HCC) (Preclinical study) & Strong T\({}_{2}\) and CT contrast; & Strong T\({}_{2}\) and CT contrast; & \\ Hybrid magnetic-metallic metallic nanoparticle (\(\mathrm{Fe_{3}O_{4}}\)-Au) & & & In vitro: HepG2 cells; In vivo: rats (normal, fatty liver, cirrhosis, HCC) (Preclinical study) & 3T MRI; 64-slice CT & \\ \hline Poly(linoleic acid)-grafted PEG-coated SPIONs & & & In vitro: HepG2 and L92 fibroblasts; MRI phantom model (Preclinical study) & T\({}_{2}\)-MRI, TEM, DIS, cytotoxicity assay, confocal microscopy & High T\({}_{2}\) relaxivity; selective uptake by cancer cells; minimal toxicity in normal cells & [46] \\ \hline Core-shell quantum dots (CdSe/ZnS) & & & In vitro: HCCLM6 cells; In vivo: nude mice with subcutaneous hepatoma (Preclinical study) & High specificity for heptoma cells; strong tumor-site imaging (confocal and spectral) & [42] \\ \hline  & & & HCCLM9 and MHCC97-L cells; mouse xenograft with lung & Cell-SELEX, flow cytometry, fluorescence microscopy, magnetic capture & High specificity and affinity for HCCLM9 cells; detected metastatic cells in magnetic capture & [43] \\ Quantum dots + magnetic particles & Detection and capture of metastatic HCC cells & & & & \\  & & & & &