Polymerized-carbon-coated metal nanoparticles (C@NPs) are emerging as versatile nanomaterials with broad applicability in biomedical imaging and integrated diagnostic–therapeutic (theranostic) platforms. These NPs combine the exceptional properties of metal cores with the stability and versatility of carbon coatings, making them an ideal candidate for non-invasive imaging, targeted drug delivery, and cancer therapy. The nanoscale size, extensive surface, and modifiable chemistry of C@NPs allow molecular interactions with biological systems, leading to greater precision in diagnosis and enhanced therapeutic outcomes. This review explores the recent developments of C@NPs, with a focus on their role in various biomedical imaging modalities like computed tomography and various imaging techniques including magnetic resonance imaging, photoacoustic imaging, magnetic particle imaging, ultrasound imaging, photothermal imaging, and fluorescence imaging. The ability of C@NPs to integrate multiple imaging techniques within a single platform, known as multimodal imaging, offers enhanced sensitivity and accuracy for disease diagnosis and monitoring. Additionally, their applications in theranostics, combining diagnostic and therapeutic functions, are examined, with particular attention to their biocompatibility, biosafety, and long-term stability. Challenges related to the synthesis, surface functionalization, and scalability of these NPs are discussed, alongside future perspectives for their clinical translation. With ongoing advancements in material design and fabrication techniques, C@NPs are poised to revolutionize precision medicine by offering innovative approaches in early disease identification, patient-specific treatment design, and dynamic tracking of therapeutic responses in real time. • Carbon-coated nanoparticles enable multimodal imaging and targeted therapy. • Surface defects and sp 2 domains enhance deep-tissue fluorescence performance. • Dual imaging-therapeutic roles support personalized nanomedicine approaches • High biocompatibility and biosafety validated through in vitro/in vivo studies. • Future focus: scalable synthesis and real-time biodistribution monitoring.
Saidi et al. (Fri,) studied this question.