Global Research Trends in Nanotechnology and Materials for Prostate Cancer Diagnosis and Treatment: A Review and Visual Analysis

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Data may be preliminary. 28 February 2025 V1 Latest version Share on Global Research Trends in Nanotechnology and Materials for Prostate Cancer Diagnosis and Treatment: A Review and Visual Analysis Authors : Pengkang Chang , Shuaishuai Ding , Bing-Bing Liang , Yuhua Cao , Gan Tian 0000-0001-5754-3418 [email protected] , and Ji Zheng Authors Info & Affiliations https://doi.org/10.22541/au.174070813.35078424/v1 294 views 311 downloads Contents Abstract Information & Authors Metrics & Citations View Options References Figures Tables Media Share Abstract not-yet-known not-yet-known not-yet-known unknown Prostate cancer is the most frequently diagnosed cancer and the deadliest malignancy of the male urinary system. Patients’ clinical progression and outcomes vary widely; however, in recent years, major advancements in both diagnosis and treatment have occurred, particularly with the application of nanotechnology in this field. Despite the substantial number of original articles and reviews published annually on prostate cancer diagnosis and treatment, no bibliometric analysis has been conducted on this topic. This study aimed to identify key themes, research hotspots, and knowledge gaps regarding the use of nanotechnology in prostate cancer diagnosis and treatment through bibliometric analysis and visualization of the literature. It also involved summarizing recent advancements to explore new research directions. We analyzed the quantity and quality of publications on nanotechnology for prostate cancer diagnosis and treatment using the Web of Science core collection database. We then examined publishing trends by country, institution, and author, and assessed cooperation networks. Subsequently, we categorized and summarized research “hot topics,” and summarized the latest findings regarding nanotechnology for prostate cancer diagnosis and treatment. Global Research Trends in Nanotechnology and Materials for Prostate Cancer Diagnosis and Treatment: A Review and Visual Analysis Pengkang Chang a, b, § , Shuaishuai Ding c, § , Bing-Bing Liang a, b, § , Yuhua Cao c , Gan Tian c, d, *, Ji Zheng a, b, * a Department of Urology, Urologic Surgery Center, Xinqiao Hospital, Third Military Medical University (Army Medical University), Chongqing, 400037, P. R. China b State Key Laboratory of Trauma and Chemical Poisoning, Third Military Medical University (Army Medical University), Chongqing, 400042, P. R. China c Institute of Pathology and Southwest Cancer Center, The First Affiliated Hospital, Third Military Medical University (Army Medical University), and Key Laboratory of Tumor Immunopathology Ministry of Education of China, Chongqing, 400038, P. R. China d Chongqing Institute of Advanced Pathology, Jinfeng Laboratory, Chongqing, 401329, P. R. China § These authors contributed equally to this work. * Corresponding authors: [email protected] (G. Tian), [email protected] (J. Zheng) Abstract Prostate cancer is the most frequently diagnosed cancer and the deadliest malignancy of the male urinary system. Patients’ clinical progression and outcomes vary widely; however, in recent years, major advancements in both diagnosis and treatment have occurred, particularly with the application of nanotechnology in this field. Despite the substantial number of original articles and reviews published annually on prostate cancer diagnosis and treatment, no bibliometric analysis has been conducted on this topic. This study aimed to identify key themes, research hotspots, and knowledge gaps regarding the use of nanotechnology in prostate cancer diagnosis and treatment through bibliometric analysis and visualization of the literature. It also involved summarizing recent advancements to explore new research directions. We analyzed the quantity and quality of publications on nanotechnology for prostate cancer diagnosis and treatment using the Web of Science core collection database. We then examined publishing trends by country, institution, and author, and assessed cooperation networks. Subsequently, we categorized and summarized research “hot topics,” and summarized the latest findings regarding nanotechnology for prostate cancer diagnosis and treatment. Key words: Prostate cancer, Nanotechnology, Nanomedicine, Bibliometric analysis, Diagnosis and Treatment 1 Introduction Prostate cancer is the most common newly diagnosed cancer and the deadliest malignant tumor of the male urinary system. According to 2022 cancer statistics in the United States, prostate cancer, along with lung cancer and colorectal cancer, accounts for nearly half (47%) of new cancer cases, with prostate cancer alone comprising 27% of confirmed cases. [1] Globally, prostate cancer varies regionally, with the highest rates in Northern Europe, Western Europe, the Caribbean, Australia/New Zealand, North America, and Southern Africa, and the lowest rates observed in Asia and North Africa. [2] However, in recent years, due to aging populations, prostate cancer incidence and mortality rates in Asia have markedly increased compared with those in Europe and the United States. [3, 4] Prostate cancer progresses slowly and insidiously, and its etiology remains unclear. Known risk factors include obesity, diet, smoking, alcohol consumption, and sexual activity. [5] Early prostate cancer often presents without symptoms. As the tumor grows, it may cause lower urinary tract obstruction symptoms, such as frequent and urgent urination, slow urine flow, difficulty urinating, and even urinary retention or incontinence. When bone metastasis occurs, it can lead to bone pain, spinal cord compression, and pathological fractures. At present, the traditional diagnostic methods of prostate cancer mainly include: digital anal examination, serum prostate specific antigen detection, imaging examination, and pathological examination. Prostate-specific antigen (PSA) screening is crucial for asymptomatic men and high-risk populations. [6] However, PSA, a protease secreted by prostate epithelial cells and tissues around the urethra, exists in both free and bound forms. Although it is specific to the prostate, PSA levels can also increase in conditions such as prostatitis, benign prostatic hyperplasia, and other nonmalignant diseases, as well as within 48 h following procedures such as cystoscopy, digital rectal examination, and catheterization. Therefore, additional markers, including free PSA (fPSA), PSA density, and prostate-specific antigen velocity, may be used to enhance diagnostic accuracy. Moreover, transrectal prostate color Doppler ultrasound, magnetic resonance imaging, and other imaging techniques not only improve diagnostic sensitivity and specificity but also guide prostate biopsy to increase biopsy positivity rates. [7-9] Although prostate biopsy is the gold standard for the diagnosis of prostate cancer, there are also missed detection rates. In addition, it requires high-level pathologists and takes a long time. The pathological evaluation of prostate cancer mainly includes histological type, tumor grade and stage. The main types of prostate cancer are acinar carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma, small cell carcinoma and papillary carcinoma. Of these, acinar carcinoma is the most common, accounting for approximately 90% of all prostate cancers. Gleason scoring system was used for grading, ranging from 2 to 10 points. Higher scores represent more malignant cancer cells. The scoring standard is the observation of the acinar morphology of cancer cells, which is mainly scored based on four indicators: the size, morphology, nuclear grooming and nuclear division of the acini. The staging of prostate cancer is mainly based on tumor size (T1-T4), lymph nodes (N0-N3) and distant metastasis (M0-M1). Treatment options for localized and locally advanced prostate cancer include radical prostatectomy, radical radiotherapy, cryoablation, high-energy focused ultrasound, irreversible electroporation, and photodynamic therapy. Radical prostatectomy remains one of the most effective treatments for localized and locally advanced prostate cancer. [10-17]. Androgen deprivation therapy is fundamental for managing metastatic prostate cancer and is integral throughout systematic treatment, although no therapy is without limitations and often requires supplementation. Moreover, the various treatments for prostate cancer have their own potential disadvantages, such as higher risks of surgery, sexual dysfunction and urination problems. Although endocrine therapy has relatively few side effects, it has a slow therapeutic effect and requires long-term treatment. In addition, long-term endocrine therapy may cause side effects such as osteoporosis and cardiovascular diseases. Chemotherapy drugs may kill normal cells and cause side effects such as nausea, vomiting, and hair loss. In addition, chemotherapy may affect the patient’s quality of life. Radiotherapy may cause complications such as radiation cystitis and radiation proctitis. In addition, radiotherapy may also affect the patient’s fertility. Modern nanotechnology provides innovative approaches for the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of tumors. [18-20] It integrates the disciplines of biology, chemistry, materials science, and pharmacy to enhance monitoring, diagnosis, and treatment during the cancer treatment cycle, including prostate cancer. [21, 22] Nanomaterials are substances that, according to established standards, have at least one size in the nanoscale range (1-100 nm), or that are assembled into new products within this range. [23] These materials are small enough to significantly reduce the clearance and phagocytosis of cells in vivo, prolong the time of drug action in vivo, and improve the efficiency. Nanomaterials have a larger surface area-volume ratio than conventional carriers, resulting in greater drug loading and enabling targeted or sustained release. [24, 25] The change of surface structure makes nanomaterials have physical epitaxial effects such as electrons, photons, and phonons, and thus possess unique physical and chemical properties such as excellent electrical conductivity, magnetic and optical properties. In addition, the greatest advantage of many nanomaterials over other materials is that they have good biocompatibility, which can reduce toxic effects on organisms and improve the safety of treatment. The nanocarrier can also realize the precise controlled release of drugs, and the release rate and release amount of drugs can be adjusted according to the needs of treatment to improve the therapeutic effect. [26-28] Now many nanoparticles have been approved for clinical cancer therapy, [29-31] but many more nanoparticles are still in clinical research or laboratory stages with considerable potential for development. Although hundreds of original articles and reviews on nanomaterial applications in prostate cancer diagnosis and treatment are published annually, a systematic analysis of these publications has not yet been conducted. Bibliometrics, the quantitative analysis of literature, is widely used to assess research trends and hotspots. VOSviewer and CiteSpace software are commonly employed for bibliometric analyses, including spelling analysis, cocitation analysis, and literature coupling analysis, and offer visual representations of results. These tools use clustering technology and mapping to quickly analyze research trends, presenting them in multivariate integrated visual knowledge graphs. Therefore, this study aims to systematically analyze and visualize the literature from the past 22 years using bibliometric software (including VOSviewer and CiteSpace). Additionally, this review focuses on the application of nanomaterials in prostate cancer to summarize achievements in both diagnostic and therapeutic field (Figure 1), understand research directions and hotspots, and provide a reference for future research. 2 Methods 2.1 Data and approval statements All literature analyzed in this study was obtained from the Web of Science (WOS; https://www.webofscience.com/wos/woscc/basic-search) database, and the retrieved articles/reviews were used for bibliometric analysis. As no human subjects were involved, Institutional Review Board approval was not required. 2.2 Data sources and collection The WOS database, a comprehensive, multidisciplinary, core journal citation index, is widely used for research in natural sciences, social sciences, humanities, and arts globally. This study used the WOS Core Collection for data statistics. The detailed retrieval criteria were as follows: 1. The search terms were TS = (”prostate* cancer*” or ”cancer* of prostate” or ”Prostate Neoplasm*”) and TS = (nano* not (nanog* or nanosecond* or nanoampere* or nanowatt* or nanohenry*)). 2. The time span was from January 1, 2002, to December 31, 2024. 3. The document types included “Article” and “Review Article.” 4. The language of publications was limited to English. The scope of the subject search includes the following fields: Title, Abstracts, Author Keywords, Keywords Plus. Because the number of literature available before 2002 was very limited, we excluded literature related to this topic published before 2002. All data were downloaded on January 26, 2025 2.3 Data analysis All data were downloaded independently by two researchers. Data analysis was performed jointly by three authors to ensure the accuracy of the data and the reproducibility of the study. We used various visual analysis software for data analysis, including Microsoft Excel 2019, CiteSpace and VOSviewer. CiteSpace (R6.2.6; https://citespace.podia.com/download ) is a widely used visual analysis tool for scientific papers. It can visualize the structure, rules, and distribution of scientific knowledge and explore research hotspots, frontiers, and trends. We primarily used CiteSpace for keyword clustering and burst word analysis. [32, 33] VOSviewer (R1.6.19; https://www.vosviewer.com/ ) is a software tool for constructing and visualizing bibliographic networks based on citations, bibliographic coupling, co-citations, or coauthorship. It offers text mining capabilities for building and visualizing co-occurrence networks of key terms from scientific literature. We used VOSviewer to visualize the co-occurrence of countries, authors, institutional collaborations, cited journals, and keywords, along with constructing correlation density maps. [34, 35] The fit test (R 2 ) was used to assess the relationship between publication year and publication output, comparing the consistency between predicted results and actual occurrences. An R 2 value closer to 1 indicates a better fit of the regression line with observed values. Hirsch’s H index was used to evaluate the quantity and quality of academic production. Total link strength was defined as the total number of co-occurrences. Additionally, the 2022 edition impact factor and journal impact factor quartiles were used to measure the scientific value of the research. CiteSpace used three algorithms, namely the logarithmic likelihood ratio, the late semantic index, and mutual information, to describe cluster characteristics. Of these, the logarithmic likelihood ratio typically provides the best results for the uniqueness and coverage of cluster-related topics; thus, it was used for keyword clustering. 3 Results 3.1 Global publishing trends and leading countries/regions The number of published papers per year reflects the extent of knowledge expansion in a field. We retrieved 5,961 records from the WOS database, selecting 5,580 articles/reviews on the application of nanomaterials in prostate cancer research. In total, 381 conference abstracts, letters, news items, book chapters, editorials, and other literature types were excluded ( Figure 2A ). From 2002 to 2024, the number of publications on nanomaterial applications in prostate cancer gradually increased. Before 2006, fewer than 50 papers were published annually. However, since 2009, the number of publications has shown accelerated growth, exceeding 100 annually. In 2022, the number reached a record high of 536. A regression model ( y = 27.002x - 54112 R² = 0.963 ) indicated a linear growth trend. By the last day of 2024, the number of articles published in the whole year of 2024 was locked at 531. This reflects the growing global interest in the field. It is expected that the number of articles published and the number of citations will continue to increase after 2024 ( Figure 2B ). From 2002 to 2024, papers on the application of nanomaterials in prostate cancer were published in 105 countries/regions. The United States had the highest number of publications (1,638; 29.35%), followed by China (1,497; 25.94%), India (478; 8.57%), Iran (331; 5.93%), and South Korea (296; 5.30%). H-index is a hybrid quantitative index proposed by Jorge Hirsch, a physicist at the University of California, San Diego, in 2005. It is mainly used to evaluate the quantity and level of academic output of researchers. Later, it was expanded to team/institution evaluation, journal evaluation, etc. The United States also ranked first in the H index (159) and total citations (113,812), followed by China (104 and 54,059), South Korea (60 and 16,242), Germany (59 and 16,837), Italy (58 and 12,505). The United States began research in this area earlier, with China now the only country besides the United States to publish more than 100 articles/reviews annually. Since 2018, China has consistently surpassed the United States in annual publication volume ( Table 1 and Figure 3A ). VOSviewer was used to analyze international collaborations ( Figure 3B ). In Figure 3C , lines between nodes represent coauthorship between countries, with thicker lines indicating stronger partnerships. Results revealed that the United States, China, India, South Korea, Italy, and Iran have more extensive collaborations, whereas other countries show weaker cooperation ties. not-yet-known not-yet-known not-yet-known unknown 3.2 Distribution and cooperation of leading institutions In total, 4,738 research institutions worldwide have contributed to publications in the field. The top five institutions with the most publications were the Chinese Academy of Sciences (135), Shanghai Jiao Tong University (107), Sun Yat-Sen University (85), Harvard University (63), and Fudan University (63). The top five institutions by citation count were Harvard University (13,900), Massachusetts Institute of Technology (11,549), Massachusetts Institute of Technology (12,097), Georgia Institute of Technology (7,037), Chinese Academy of Sciences (7,018) (Table 2) . Although some institutions in the United States began research earlier compared with those in other countries, they did not lead in publication volume but excelled in citation count. Collaboration between research institutions was found to be complex, showing distinct regional patterns (Figure 4) . not-yet-known not-yet-known not-yet-known unknown 3.3 Authors and co-cited authors Author co-occurrence analysis identified core authors and author cooperation strength. Co-citation analysis shows relationships between two authors or papers when the second author or paper is cited simultaneously by a third. We identified 26,192 authors and 126,614 cocited authors. Farokhzad, Omid C (26), Zhang W (26), Pomper, Martin G (21), O’Driscoll, Caitriona M (18), and Jaggi, Meena (18) were the most published authors. Although cooperation was evident, cooperation between teams was limited, resulting in relatively scattered research. Cocitation analysis revealed that Johansen (447), Zhang Y (439), Wang J (411), Wang Y (410), Seigel, RL (405) had the most co-citations (Table 3 ). The above-mentioned authors showed substantial interest in research regarding nanomaterials in prostate cancer (Figure 5 ). not-yet-known not-yet-known not-yet-known unknown 3.4 Leading journals and cocited journals Papers were published in 1,116 journals. The top five high-yielding journals were International Journal of Nanomedicine (119), International Journal of Molecular Sciences (83), Analytical Chemistry (83), Biomaterials (77), Journal of Controlled Release (75). The most cited journals were Biomaterials (8,350), ACS Nano (8,270), Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America (7,699), Advanced Drug Delivery Reviews (5,422), Biosensors & Bioelectronics (4,784) (Table 4 ). Analysis of co-citation journals showed that 15,656 journals were cited. The top five cocited journals were Cancer Research (7,053), Biomaterials (6,044), Journal of Controlled Release (5,681), Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America (5,176), and ACS Nano (4,874). Most of the top 10 productive and cocited journals are Quartile 1 and 2 journals (the top 25% and 25%–50% of journals in the field by impact factor, respectively), reflecting the outstanding academic contributions of research on nanomaterial-related drugs in prostate cancer. The top 50 journals had strong common reference frequencies (Table 5 and Figure 6 ). 3.5 Co-occurring and burst references We obtained 223,583 references within the scope of our search, and after sifting again, we listed the top 10 highly cited publications, eight of which have been cited more than 1,000 times: Gao X (2004) [36], Harisinghani MG (2003) [37], Farokzad OC (2006) [38], Byrne JD (2008) [39], Cheng J (2007) [40], Laurent S (2011) [41], Maier-Hauff K (2010), Malam Y (2009) [42] (Table 6 ). Additionally, 20 references had the strongest citation bursts. The three with the highest intensity were Rawla P (2019) (25.55) [43], Farokzad OC (2006) (21.97) [38], and Siegel RL (2014) (21.07) [44]. The first citation burst occurred in 2005 with Harisinghani MG (2003) [37] and Farokzad OC (2004) [45](Figure 7 ). 3.6 Keyword co-occurrence and clustering Keywords reflect the core content of articles, and cluster mapping can effectively highlight research hotspots. In total, 17,327 keywords were identified. The top 10 were prostate cancer (2,734), nanoparticles (1,077), in vitro (580), cancer (578), drug delivery (535), expression (491), therapy (453), delivery (434), and cells (395). Using VOSviewer for clustering analysis and combining synonyms, five clusters were identified in the top 100 keywords ( Figure 8 ): ”prostate cancer,” ”drug delivery,” ”cancer,” ”nanoparticle,” and ”prostate-specific antigen.” These represented the main topics related to prostate cancer. not-yet-known not-yet-known not-yet-known unknown 4. Discussion The emergence of big data applications enables researchers to organize, summarize and obtain knowledge from various sources, and carry out scientific innovation on a certain basis. VOSviewer, CiteSpace and other software tools can be used to comprehensively analyze the research progress of prostate cancer nanomaterials, identify current research trends, predict future research hotspots, and present them in a visual way. This study represents the first bibliometric analysis of the application of nanomaterials in prostate cancer in more than two decades. Through literature retrieval, it can be seen that the number of research papers on nanomaterials in prostate cancer has continued to increase in the past 20 years (R2 = 0.963), and more than 200 related papers have been published each year in the past 10 years, indicating that the research enthusiasm in this field is growing. In addition, the increase in the number of papers published indicates that more countries and investigators may be involved in investigating the application of nanomaterials in prostate cancer. Worldwide, the United States leads in the number of publications, citations, H-index, and overall contribution in this field, followed by China, India, Iran, and South Korea. In terms of paper quality, differences in H-index between countries highlight differences in the quality of published papers and highlight the need for greater collaboration between research institutions and countries, especially between Asian and American countries. Impact factor, journal impact factor quartile, total citation frequency and other indicators are effective indicators to evaluate the quality of journals. The top three journals in this field are International Journal of nanmedicine, Analytical Chemistry and Biomaterials, with high number of publications and citation rate, and great academic influence. Among the extensive literature reviewed, Farokhzad, OC emerged as the most prolific author, followed by Zhang W, Martin G, Caitriona M, and Meena J. Additionally, Johannsen Manfred, Seigel RL, and other authors were highly cited. Farokhzad, OC, a renowned professor at Harvard Medical School and head of the Nanomedicine Center at Brigham and Women’s Hospital, focuses on developing multifunctional nanoparticle-based drug delivery systems for enhanced therapeutic efficacy. [46-50] The high H index and citation frequency of Johannsen’s publications underscore the substantial interest in using magnetic nanoparticles for prostate cancer therapy along with hyperthermia, reflecting growing interdisciplinary attention directed toward prostate cancer research. [51-55] Nanomaterials, with their unique nanoscale properties, have gained considerable interest for biomedical applications, including drug delivery, imaging, synthetic vaccine development, and medical device fabrication. This is basically consistent with the results of highly cited literature and keyword cluster analysis that we retrieved. A review by Farokhzad, OC highlighted nanotechnology’s advantages in tumor treatments, including improved drug efficacy, targeted drug delivery, enhanced pharmaceutical properties, sustained drug release, and sensitive cancer diagnosis. [56] The diversity of nanoparticle compositions, ranging from carbon nanotubes to liposomes, influences their biological interactions and therapeutic outcomes. The present review explored nanomedicine’s potential in prostate cancer research by organizing and synthesizing relevant literature and recent advancements. not-yet-known not-yet-known not-yet-known unknown 4.1 Some types of nanomaterials commonly used in prostate cancer Nanomaterials commonly used in prostate cancer research represent a range of innovative approaches (Figure 9 ). (i) Quantum dots are semiconductor nanocrystals with a core-shell structure and a diameter of 1 to 10 nm. They are typically composed of cadmium selenide, cadmium telluride, cadmium sulfide, zinc sulfide, zinc selenide, lead sulfide, lead selenide, indium phosphide and gallium indium phosphide. They possess excellent photophysical properties and have significant application value in molecular biology, cell biology, molecular imaging, and tumor diagnosis and treatment. [57-61] (ii) Polymer nanoparticles refer to nanocarriers composed of high-molecular-weight compounds with diameters less than 1 μm, synthesized from natural or artificial polymers. They include nanocapsules and nanospheres. Nanocapsules have a hydrophobic core encapsulated by a polymer shell and are used for drug dissolution or surface binding. Nanospheres retain or absorb drugs in a polymer matrix. [62-65] (iii) Liposomes are concentric vesicles with a lipid bilayer composed of natural or synthetic phospholipids and cholesterol, and they are a multifunctional delivery system. They can be surface-modified through ligand binding to target specific cells. Drugs encapsulated in liposomes exhibit changes in pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics. Their application scope has far exceeded drug delivery and has involved the delivery of biomolecules and genes. [66-71] (iv) Micelles are colloidal particles or supramolecular aggregates with a core-shell structure. It is commonly used in drug delivery systems to treat tumors. It protects hydrophobic drugs from being detected by the immune system. [72-75] (v) Dendrimers are three-dimensional macromolecules with a radial structure containing branch points. They are ideal for storing, transporting and controlling the release of bioactive molecules. In addition, its monodisperse structure and multifunctional surface make it suitable for a variety of nanomedicine applications. [76-81] (vi) Metal nanoparticles are derived from metal precursors. Due to their physical and chemical properties, they have different applications in biomedicine. For example, they are used for targeted drug delivery and biosensors, but also as diagnostic and therapeutic agents for diseases, including cancer. [82-84] (vii) Magnetic nanoparticles have unique properties such as direct functionalization, high specific surface area and superparamagnetism. And can be controlled by magnetic field to achieve precision. They are widely used for therapeutic and diagnostic biocompatible polymer applications. [85, 86] (viii) Mesoporous silica nanoparticles have a high specific surface area, adjustable pore size, and controlled morphology. Thus, they represent an excellent matrix material for constructing diverse nanocomposites for drug delivery. Moreover, they provide a platform for loading therapeutic drugs and nanomaterials, enhancing biocompatibility and biodegradability. [87]. In terms of the types of materials, the current mainstream research of nano types is basically explored in prostate cancer disease. 4.2 Partial application of nanomaterials in the diagnosis of prostate cancer Prostate cancer diagnosis relies on three key pillars: biomarkers, imaging techniques, and histological validation in specialized centralized laboratories. [88] PSA is the most reliable biomarker for screening and monitoring prostate cancer. Total PSA (tPSA) in the blood exists as fPSA and PSA complexed with protease inhibitors. A PSA level of 4 ng/mL is the threshold; for levels between 4 and 10 ng/mL, the combined fPSA/tPSA ratio is assessed to determine the need for biopsy confirmation. PSA levels exceeding 10 ng/mL are a clear indication for biopsy. PSA testing is used not only for initial screening but also for monitoring disease progression and guiding clinical decisions following diagnosis. Most PSA tests are conducted in specialized laboratories using automated high-throughput immunoassay systems; however, Balaji Srinivasan et al. proposed a rapid screening method using AuNSh test strips and a portable Cube TM reader to quantify tPSA from a serum droplet in 20 min, offering a lower detection limit than that of AuNSp-labeled strips ( Figure 10A ). [89] Despite the conceptual feasibility of this method, human validation studies are lacking. Similarly, Hyung-Mo Kim et al. used a lateral flow immunoassay with silicon dioxide (SiO 2 @Ag@SiO 2 ) nanoparticles to detect PSA in serum in 10 min, with test line color band intensity reflecting PSA levels ( Figure 10B ). [90] These methods can detect tPSA but cannot differentiate fPSA/tPSA ratios in the gray zone, necessitating repeated testing or combined tPSA results to supplement biopsy evidence. Zahra Aayanifard et al. developed an electrochemical biosensor for prostate cancer and benign prostatic hyperplasia diagnosis using a sensing platform that recognizes PSA through an aptamer/gold/graphene oxide nanohybrid–modified glassy carbon electrode, thereby differentiating between tPSA and fPSA. [91] Although still in the laboratory stage and not yet tested with human blood, this biosensor holds promise for more accurate PSA screening. PSA can be influenced by various factors, including prostatitis, prostate massage, ejaculation, and catheterization. Researchers are exploring other biomarkers and detection systems for improved sensitivity and specificity. For instance, Valquiria C. Rodrigues et al. investigated prostate cancer antigen 3, a specific prostate cancer indicator, using gold nanoparticles with chitosan and chondroitin sulfate to enhance electrical signals in a gene sensor, detecting prostate cancer antigen 3 at low concentrations in vitro. [92] Screening for PSAs necessitates blood sampling, driving demand for alternative noninvasive methods. Thus, urine has attracted attention as a diagnostic fluid. Seongchan Kim et al. developed a miRNA sensing platform using a disposable sensor chip surface-functionalized with reduced graphene oxide nanosheets and peptide nucleic acid to detect three different miRNAs in 20 min without pretreatment or signal amplification, showing potential for early diagnosis. [93] Electrochemical biosensors are employed to quantitatively analyze biochemical analytes in body fluids, providing insights into dynamic physiological processes for research and healthcare. [94] Signal amplification is crucial for enhancing detection sensitivity, especially for detecting low concentrations of disease markers in body fluids, achievable through nanotechnology- and biotechnology-based approaches. Imaging techniques, such as transrectal ultrasound, magnetic resonance imaging, computed tomography, and positron emission tomography, are commonly employed in prostate cancer diagnosis; however, their low resolution limits their effectiveness for early prostate cancer detection, often necessitating complementary strategies, including ultrasound-guided transrectal prostate biopsy. Ultrasound is favored in cancer screening owing to its nonionizing radiation, cost-effectiveness, and portability. Novel ultrasound contrast agents, such as prostate-specific membrane antigen (PSMA)-targeted NBs, enhance imaging capabilities for detecting PSMA-positive prostate cancer ( Figure 10C ). [95] PSMA is highly expressed in prostate cancer cells; thus, it holds promise as a biomarker. Armita Dash et al. demonstrated specific targeting of PSMA-positive prostate cancer cells using phospholipid-coated NaDyF4-NaGdF4 nanoparticles in magnetic resonance imaging ( Figure 10D ). [96] Multimodal molecular imaging integrates various imaging techniques for noninvasive, dynamic, and quantitative assessments at the molecular and cellular levels, enhancing lesion evaluation. [97] Jinman Zhong et al. developed isomorphic GoldMag nanoparticles targeting epithelial cell adhesion molecule–positive prostate cancer cells for enhanced magnetic resonance imaging. [98] Advances in multimodal nanoprobe technology have led to the development of targeted imaging agents, such as 89Zr-Pt@TiO2-SPHINX, effective for positron emission tomography imaging and antiangiogenesis in prostate cancer cells. [99] Nanoparticles are increasingly used in prostate cancer treatment owing to their drug delivery capabilities, tissue-specific targeting, and enhanced efficacy. Despite available treatments, metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer remains challenging, driving ongoing research for improved therapeutic strategies. [100, 101] Epithelial–mesenchymal transition, marked by increased N-cadherin expression, is crucial in tumor metastasis; therefore, Karolina Karnas et al. synthesized superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles surface-modified with anti-N-cadherin antibodies to capture N-cadherin in circulating tumor cells. [102] Professor Tian’s group proposed a novel imaging method using superparamagnetic iron oxide neuropeptide nanoparticles (PSN NPs) conjugated with propranolol to visualize the nerve density of prostate cancer. [103] The study used magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and magnetic particle imaging (MPI) to achieve high sensitivity and specificity in the visualization of neural density ( Figure 11A ). They evaluated the nerve density distribution of prostate cancer using pharmacological and surgical approaches and verified the ability of PSN NPs to distinguish between high and low nerve densities observed in prostate cancer on MRI and MPI by imaging the nerve density within the cancer ( Figure 11B-E ). The results show that PSN NPs combined with the advantages of MRI and MPI not only improve the sensitivity and specificity of detecting nerve density in prostate cancer, but also allow in vivo assessment of nerve density and tumor aggressiveness. Nerve density imaging offers new possibilities for biomarkers associated with neural tissue and prostate cancer aggressiveness that may support neuroblocking therapies. 4.3 Partial application of nanomaterials in prostate cancer treatment Evaluating prostate cancer treatment involves considering pathological stage, metastasis, and patient health. Radical prostatectomy is recommended for localized prostate cancer, with alternative treatment options including chemotherapy, androgen deprivation therapy, immunotherapy, and radiotherapy. However, nanoparticles can enhance drug delivery for prostate cancer therapy, targeting specific tissues and overcoming treatment resistance, thereby offering new prospects in disease treatment. [100, 101] Indeed, the application of nanomaterials in such treatment has resulted in innovative approaches to chemotherapy, immunotherapy, gene therapy, physical therapy, radiotherapy, and hormonal therapy, improving efficacy and minimizing side effects. Traditional chemotherapeutics, such as cisplatin, cyclophosphamide, docetaxel, and doxorubicin, face challenges that include poor water solubility and systemic toxicity. [104, 105] Nanomaterial-based delivery systems, including polymer micelles and cancer cell membrane–camouflaged nanoparticles, address these issues by enhancing drug solubility and targeting while avoiding systemic toxicity. [106-110] . In immunotherapy, nanomaterials can reprogram tumor-associated macrophages and block immune checkpoint pathways to enhance immune targeting of cancer cells. [111, 112] Gene therapy benefits from nanoparticles as vectors for gene delivery, offering efficiency and reduced adverse reactions compared with viral vectors. [113-123] Physical therapies, including high-intensity focused ultrasound and photodynamic therapy, have been improved with nanomaterials. [124] such as carbon nanotubes augmenting the thermal effect of high-intensity focused ultrasound and nanocarriers loaded with photosensitizers increasing active compound concentrations at tumor sites. Nanomaterials have also improved radiotherapy [124] , where nanoparticles loaded with sonosensitizers improve sonodynamic performance under ultrasound, resulting in the production of cytotoxic reactive oxygen species, which may also improve targeting. [125] Photodynamic therapy is limited by an inability to penetrate deep tissues to kill deep-lying tumor cells; hence, it benefits from photosensitizer-loaded nanocarriers for increased tumor site accumulation. [124] Magnetic nanoparticles, mainly iron oxide nanoparticles, enable precise magnetic drive and directional delivery, enabling in situ tumor therapy. [126] Magnetic materials can be used in an environment containing alternating magnetic fields to achieve magnetic hyperthermia, which represents a multimodal treatment strategy. [127] Gold nanoparticles, exhibiting radiosensitizing properties, enhance radiation therapy by increasing reactive oxygen species production in cancer cells. [128] In hormonal therapy, a crucial aspect of prostate cancer treatment, nanomaterials improve drug delivery and the bioavailability of various medications, including enzalutamide and abiraterone, enhancing their therapeutic efficacy. [129-131] Combination therapies utilizing nanomaterials show promise in integrating different treatment modalities for superior therapeutic outcomes. For instance, pH-responsive nanophotosensitive agents boost immunotherapy by stimulating immunogenic cell death while obstructing immune escape pathways. Stimulus-responsive nanoparticles that release drugs in response to tumor microenvironment changes or external cues have introduced a novel approach in controlled drug release, potentially enhancing therapeutic outcomes while minimizing adverse effects. Numerous clinical and preclinical investigations have indicated that the efficacy of monotherapies, such as chemotherapy, often falls short of expectations. This is primarily attributed to factors including the intrinsic drug resistance of malignant cells and the variability in inter-patient oncological profiles. Conversely, multi-modal therapeutic strategies, which encompass the concurrent application of diverse treatment modalities, have demonstrated significant promise in augmenting therapeutic outcomes by concurrently addressing multiple pathological targets. Wang et al. designed a pH-sensitive, membrane-targeting nano-photosensitizer, YBS-BMS NPs-RKC, which harnessed the properties of both type I and type II photosensitizers. [132] This nano-photosensitizer encapsulated the semiconductor polymer photosensitizer YBS and the PD-1/PD-L1 inhibitor BMS-202, aiming to synergize immunogenic pyroptosis with immune checkpoint blockade (ICB) for an enhanced photo-immunotherapy (PIT) effect ( Figure 12A, B ). It was verified in vitro by western bolt assay that YBS NPs-RKC could effectively induce tumor cell pyroptosis and release damage-related molecular patterns after NIR laser irradiation ( Figure 12C, D ). In vivo experiments, after injecting YBS-BMS NPs-RKC and receiving NIR laser irradiation, the infiltration of CD8+ T cells in tumor tissues increased and the number of Treg cells decreased significantly ( Figures 12E ). This provides a new reference for the development of immunogenic cell pyroptosis inducers and the photo-immunotherapy of prostate cancer. The incorporation of nanomaterials into prostate cancer treatment strategies signifies a major advancement, offering targeted and efficient therapies with the potential for application in personalized medicine. However, further research is required to elucidate mechanisms of action and optimize clinical utilization of these innovative therapeutic systems. 4.4 Characteristics of nanomaterials in prostate cancer research Based on the recent literature, we preliminarily summarized some characteristics of nano in prostate cancer research. (1) Nanomaterials have a wide range of research areas. The current research on prostate cancer covers quantum dots, polymer nanoparticles, liposomes, micelles, dendritic molecules, metal nanoparticles, magnetic nanoparticles, mesoporous silica nanoparticles, and so on. Through different assembly processes, in the biomarkers of prostate cancer detection [20, 133] , tumor imaging [134, 135] , hormone resistance [136] , chemotherapy drugs improvement [137] , the regulation of tumor microenvironment [138] , the development of new drugs [139, 140] and treatment strategy [141-143] , accordingly in areas such as exploration. The complexity of nanomaterials is greatly improved, with more functions and stronger targeting. (2) Current research hotspots are concentrated in the following directions: 1) Precision targeted drug delivery systems, such as the use of prostate-specific membrane antigen (PSMA), folate receptor and other targeting ligands, improve drug enrichment at the tumor site. The low immunogenicity and tumor homing ability of natural exosomes can be used to deliver chemotherapy drugs or other therapeutic agents; [144] 2) multi-functional carriers to realize the integration of diagnosis and treatment, such as PSMA-targeted radionuclide carriers for precise imaging and targeted radiotherapy of prostate cancer; 3) immune microenvironment regulation, including cancer cell death mechanism and enhanced T cell response; [138, 145, 146] and 4) collaborative therapy, the overcoming of drug resistance, such as multi-strategy collaborative therapy, combined delivery systems, and delivery of inhibitors to achieve epigenetic regulation. 4.5 Nanomaterials are limited in prostate cancer research (1) Limitations of complex tumor microenvironment In animal studies of nanomaterials, most of them are injected into tumors through veins. Hepatic and splenic clearance. In the complex network of tumor microenvironment (TME), the interaction and influence of disorganized blood vessels, extracellular interstitial high pressure (FHP), related fibroblasts and dense extracellular matrix (ECM) also constitute a natural barrier that hinders the delivery of nanomaterials to the deep part of tumor tissue, limiting the penetration, distribution and accumulation of nanomaterials in tumor tissue. Only a small fraction of the nanoparticles was successfully delivered to the tumor site. [147] (2) Targeting efficiency and off-target effects Active targeting strategies rely on high expression of specific receptors/transporters in tumors, and heterogeneous expression may greatly reduce their targeting efficiency. The within-lineage temporal heterogeneity of PSMA expression in CRPC is also evident, and some patients with advanced prostate cancer lose PSMA expression, which may lead to off-target effects. [148, 149] (3) Scale production and quality control The fabrication process of nanomaterials is usually complex and involves many sophisticated experimental manipulations and control techniques. The size, shape and distribution of nanoparticles have a great influence on their properties, making the preparation techniques also need to be greatly precise. In addition, the acquisition and processing costs of raw materials are high, the energy consumption of preparation equipment is high, the environmental requirements are high, and the production capacity is low. Homogenization of different batches is difficult to achieve, the corresponding preparation standards are missing, and it is difficult to promote clinical translation. (4) Long-term Biosafety With their small size and large specific surface area, nanomaterials can be in more extensive contact with biological tissues, which may lead to more intense toxic reactions. Some nanomaterials may be bioaccumulative, which means that they can accumulate in the organism and have long-term effects on the organism, which may trigger a variety of biological reactions in the organism, including inflammation, cell death and gene mutation. At present, there is still a lack of uniform standards for comprehensively assessing the safety of nanomaterials. 4.6 The future of nanomaterials in prostate cancer research (1) Intelligent responsive nanosystems The tumor microenvironment is complex and changeable, resulting in the failure of most anti-tumor drugs to accurately reach the lesion tissue and controlled release. However, through the study of the characteristics of tumor microenvironment, we can use the characteristics to realize environment-triggered release. For example, pH -, enzyme -, or ROS-sensitive vectors can be designed to release drugs only in the tumor microenvironment. [150-153] (2) Integration of gene therapy and nanotechnology Gene therapy offers unprecedented roles in drug development, including the ability to modulate the coding of protein genes, improve target specificity, and achieve reversible effects. Gene editing, including plasmid DNA, small interfering RNA (siRNA), antisense oligodeoxynucleotides (AONs), miRNA, mRNA and CRISPR/Cas, can be combined with nanotechnology to achieve the repair of prostate cancer driver gene mutations, knockout of androgen receptor gene and tumor microenvironment intervention. (3) Artificial intelligence (AI) drives design The previous research of materials science relies on the research background of researchers, coupled with the process of trial and error. It is time-consuming and inefficient. Artificial intelligence (AI) is an important driving force for a new round of scientific and technological revolution and industrial transformation, which provides important means in scientific simulation, model prediction, high-throughput experiments, and automated characterization. For example, machine learning is used to predict the interaction between nanomaterials and biological interfaces and accelerate the development of new carriers. (4) Personalized nanomedicine Tumor cell exosomes have a certain homing ability, which has natural advantages in the delivery of anti-tumor drugs. Customized exosome surface modification based on patient tumor markers can achieve ”individualized” drug delivery. (5) Multimodal combined treatment platform Multimodal combined treatment platform is a system that combines multiple medical technologies or methods to provide a more comprehensive and accurate treatment plan. Such platforms often combine multi-modal data and technologies to optimize treatment outcomes and improve the efficiency and quality of health care delivery. For example, electrochemical-magnetic hyperthermia can increase the intracellular concentration of chemotherapy drugs and improve their sensitivity to chemotherapy. [141, 150, 154, 155] 5 Conclusions In conclusion, mutated genes, proteins, and pathways linked to higher prostate cancer risk can serve as biomarkers, aiding in disease staging, diagnosis, and treatment of this disease, which remains among the leading causes of mortality among men worldwide. As shown in this review, nanomedicine plays a vital role in cancer therapy owing to its various applications in drug delivery, diagnostics, imaging, synthetic vaccine creation, and micromedical device production, as well as the inherent therapeutic properties of certain nanomaterials. Despite substantial progress in tumor nanomedicine, the field faces both challenges and opportunities. In conclusion, mutated genes, proteins, and pathways associated with a high risk of prostate cancer can serve as biomarkers to help stage, diagnose, and treat this disease, which remains one of the leading causes of death among men worldwide. Through methods such as serology and urinalysis, nanotechnology facilitates rapid, non-invasive tumor diagnosis. However, the complexity of tumor biology requires balancing multiple indicators to ensure the accuracy and sensitivity of treatment. As this review shows, nanomedicine plays a crucial role in cancer treatment due to its various applications in drug delivery, diagnostics, imaging, synthetic vaccine manufacturing, and micromedical device production, as well as the inherent therapeutic properties of certain nanomaterials. Despite substantial advances in tumor nanomedicine, the field faces challenges and opportunities. (1) The biosafety of nanomaterials is a primary concern. The behavior, metabolism and excretion of nanomaterials in vivo are not fully understood. Factors such as the interaction of nanoparticles with proteins, blood circulation, nanoparticle behavior in the tumor microenvironment, and cell penetration and internalization influence the systemic distribution and efficacy of nanoparticles. Long-term biological effects and potential toxicity need to be further studied and evaluated. Key characteristics of nanoparticles, including size, composition, surface properties, porosity, composition, and targeting ligands, play a crucial role in these processes, ultimately influencing drug accumulation and therapeutic outcomes. With the continuous development of nanotechnology, new nanomaterials will explore more excellent properties, such as higher biocompatibility, stronger targeting and controllability; (2) It should not be ignored that the preparation and production of nanomaterials require high-precision technology and equipment, and the cost is high. In the future, there will be greater improvement in the mass production mode; (3) The application of new materials in the medical field requires strict regulatory and policy support; (4) Under the background of disciplinary integration and development, nanomedicine will be cross-integrated with more disciplines such as biotechnology, information technology and materials science to promote the continuous emergence of new technologies and new products and bring more innovation opportunities to the medical field. not-yet-known not-yet-known not-yet-known unknown Acknowledgements This work was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (82103688, 82203894 and 81971747), Top Young and Middle-aged Medical Talent of Chongqing, Top Young and Middle-aged Medical Studio of Chongqing, Chongqing Science and Health Joint fund for Top Young and Middle-aged talent (2023GDRc007), New Chongqing Youth Innovative Talent Project (CSTB2024NSCQ-QCXMX0041), the Key Project for Clinical Innovation of Army Medical University (CX2019LC107), the Second Affiliated Hospital of Army Military Medical University Discipline Talent Construction Special Project (2023XKRC007), and Jinfeng Laboratory Research Project (JFLKYXM202203AZ-204) Consent for publication All authors agree that the text in the article and any images or videos will be published on the Internet and sign the consent form. Availability of data and materials The datasets analyzed during the current study are available from Web of Science (WOS; https://www.webofscience.com/wos/woscc/basic-search) database or from the corresponding author upon reasonable request. Competing interests The authors declare no competing financial interest. not-yet-known not-yet-known not-yet-known unknown Authors’ contributions Pengkang Chang，Shuaishuai Ding and Bing-Bing Liang are responsible for data analysis and are the main contributors to the manuscript. Yuhua Cao is responsible for providing pictures and tables. Professor Gan Tian is responsible for language proofreading and picture review. Professor Ji Zheng is responsible for the overall idea of the article and full-text proofreading. All authors read and approved the final manuscript References 1. Siegel RL, Miller KD, Fuchs HE, Jemal A: Cancer statistics, 2022. CA Cancer J Clin 2022, 72: 7-33.2. 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Lesniak WG, Boinapally S, Lofland G, Jiang Z, Foss CA, Behman Azad B, Jablonska A, Garcia MA, Brzezinski M, Pomper MG: Multimodal, PSMA-Targeted, PAMAM Dendrimer-Drug Conjugates for Treatment of Prostate Cancer: Preclinical Evaluation. Int J Nanomedicine 2024, 19: 4995-5010. Figures and Tables Figure 1. Schematic illustration of the nanomaterials-mediated diagnosis and treatment of prostate cancer concluded by a bibliometrics analysis. not-yet-known not-yet-known not-yet-known unknown Figure 2. (A ) Flowchart of the literature search strategy applied in this study. (B ) The annual trends of publications and citations from 2002 to 2024. Figure 3. ( A ) Changing trends in annual publication volume in the top 10 countries/regions from 2002 to 2024. ( B ) Co-occurrence map of countries/regions; ( C ) line thickness between countries reflects the frequency of cooperation. Figure 4. Co-occurrence map of institutions. Figure 5 . Analysis of the productive authors and cocited authors (top 50). Figure 6. Analysis of journals and co-cited journals. not-yet-known not-yet-known not-yet-known unknown Figure 7. Reference burst analysis conducted using CiteSpace. Figure 8. Keyword co-occurrence analysis conducted using VOSviewer (top 100). Figure 9 . Characteristic TEM images of different nanoparticles: Quantum dots, [61] Polymer NPs, [65] Liposomes, [71] Micelles, [75] Dendrimers, [81] Metal NPs, [84] Magnetic NPs, [86] mSiO 2 [87] Figure 10 . ( A ) Schematic diagram of a sandwich method lateral flow test strip assembly for tPSA quantification. [89] Copyright 2021, Elsevier. ( B ) Schematic diagram of a lateral flow immunoassay dropper. [90] Copryright 2021, Multidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute. ( C ) Schematic representation of tumor models and PSMA-targeted versus non-targeted NBs. [95] Copyright 2021, Nature. ( D ) Schematic of MRI imaging of nanoparticles. [96] Copyright 2021, American Chemical Society. Figure 11. ( A ) Schematic diagram of PSN NPs as MRI and MPI contrast agents and therapeutic drug for prostate cancer. ( B, C ) MRI and MPI images of mice treated with PBS and 6-OHDA, captured 24 hours post-systemic injection of PSN NPs. ( D, E ) MRI and MPI images of mice treated with sham-operated and surgical HGNx at 24 hours following PSN NPs administration. The red dashed circles denote the regions of nerve density within the existing prostate cancer. Figure 12. ( A ) Schematic representation of YBS-BMS NPsRKC composition, properties and induction of self-synergistic immunotherapy for prostate cancer. ( B, C ) MRI and MPI images of mice treated with PBS and 6-OHDA, captured 24 hours post-systemic injection of PSN NPs. ( D, E ) MRI and MPI images of mice treated with sham-operated and surgical HGNx at 24 hours following PSN NPs administration. The red dashed circles denote the regions of nerve density within the existing prostate cancer. [132] Copyright 2023, Wiley-VCH GmbH. Table 1. Top 10 publication-producing countries/regions. 1 USA 1638 29.35% 159 113,812 2 China 1497 26.83% 104 54,059 3 India 478 8.57% 57 12,872 4 Iran 331 5.93% 55 10,247 5 South Korea 296 5.30% 60 16,242 6 Italy 282 5.05% 58 12,505 7 Germany 263 4.71% 59 16,837 8 Canada 218 3.91% 56 10,132 9 England 192 3.44% 49 11,460 10 Australia 173 3.10% 48 7,798 Table 2. Top 10 publication-producing institutions. 1 Chinese Academy of Sciences 135 CHN 7,018 1,279 2 Shanghai Jiao Tong University 107 CHN 3,982 949 3 Sun Yat-Sen University 85 CHN 3,314 931 4 Harvard University 63 USA 13,900 1,557 5 Fudan University 63 CHN 2,024 666 6 Jilin University 62 CHN 2,139 787 7 Islamic Azad University 61 IRN 1,279 625 8 University of Toronto 57 CAN 2,245 373 9 Johns Hopkins University 53 USA 2,515 761 10 Tehran University of Medical Sciences 53 USA 2,469 488 Table 3. Top 10 productive authors and cocited authors. 1 Farokhzad OC 26 7,502 1 Johannsen M 477 2 Zhang W 25 652 2 Zhang Y 439 3 Martin G 21 665 3 Wang J 411 4 Caitriona M 18 649 4 Wang Y 410 5 Meena J 18 1,742 5 Seigel RL 405 6 Murali M 18 1,653 6 Chen Y 358 7 Subhash C 18 1,675 7 Liu Y 350 8 Henk G 18 865 8 Maeda H 350 9 Zhang Y 18 1,329 9 Jemal A 350 10 Wang J 18 970 10 Farokhzad OC 335 Table 4. Top 10 most productive journals. 1 International Journal of Nanomedicine 119 4,751 7.5 Q1 2 International Journal of Molecular Sciences 83 2,944 5.6 Q1 3 Analytical Chemistry 83 4,574 6.5 Q1 4 Biomaterials 77 8,350 13.1 Q1 5 Journal of Controlled Release 75 4,725 10.6 Q1 6 Pharmaceutics 72 1,055 5.5 Q1 7 International Journal of Pharmaceutics 72 2,567 5.6 Q1 8 ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces 71 2,971 8.7 Q1 9 ACS Nano 68 8,270 16.2 Q1 10 Biosensors & Bioelectronics 67 4,784 9.9 Q1 Abbreviations: a) IF, impact factor; b) JIF, journal impact factor. Table 5. Top 10 most co-cited journals. 1 Cancer Research 7,053 11.6 Q1 2 Biomaterials 6,044 13.1 Q1 3 Journal of Controlled Release 5,681 10.6 Q1 4 Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America 5,176 10.8 Q1 5 ACS Nano 4,874 16.2 Q1 6 Clinical Cancer Research 4,060 11.1 Q1 7 Biosensors & Bioelectronics 4,010 9.9 Q1 8 Analytical Chemistry 3,930 6.5 Q1 9 Journal of the American Chemical Society 3,912 14.8 Q1 10 International Journal of Nanomedicine 3,593 7.5 Q1 Table 6. Top 10 most cited references. 1 In vivo cancer targeting and imaging with semiconductor quantum dots. Nature Biotechnology Gao X 2004 4081 Research Articles quantum dots In vivo Targeting of cancer cells Multicolor fluorescence imaging 2 Noninvasive detection of clinically occult lymph-node metastases in prostate cancer. New England Journal of Medicine Harisinghani MG 2003 1523 Research Articles magnetic nanoparticles Noninvasive detection Lymph node metastasis 3 Targeted nanoparticle-aptamer bioconjugates for cancer chemotherapy in vivo. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America Farokhzad OC 2006 1464 Research Articles Dtxl-NP-Apt Targeted therapy 4 Active targeting schemes for nanoparticle systems in cancer therapeutics Advanced Drug Delivery Reviews Byrne JD 2008 1384 Review article - Active targeting schemes angiogenesis-associated targeting targeting to uncontrolled cell proliferation markers tumor cell targeting. 5 Formulation of functionalized PLGA-PEG nanoparticles for in vivo targeted drug delivery Biomaterials Cheng J 2007 1080 Research Articles PLGA-PEG nanoparticles Formulation 6 Magnetic fluid hyperthermia: focus on superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles Advances in Colloid and Interface Science Laurent S 2011 1061 Review article SPION hyperthermia limitations and advances 7 Liposomes and nanoparticles: nanosized vehicles for drug delivery in cancer Trends in Pharmacological Sciences Malam Y 2009 1009 Review article - Nanoscale drug delivery systems 8 Preclinical development and clinical translation of a PSMA-targeted docetaxel nanoparticle with a differentiated pharmacological profile Science Translational Medicine Hrkach J 2012 938 Research Articles DTXL-TNP Targeted therapy 9 Tissue-penetrating delivery of compounds and nanoparticles into tumors Cancer Cell Kazuki N Sugahara 2009 926 Research Articles iRGD tissue-penetrating peptide tumor targeting 10 Nanotechnology applications in cancer Annual Review of Biomedical Engineering Nie S 2007 868 Review article - bioaffinity nanoparticle probes targeted nanoparticle drugs integrated nanodevices not-yet-known not-yet-known not-yet-known unknown Author Biographies Ji Zheng obtained his B.S. degree and Ph.D. degree from the Third Military Medical University (Army Medical University). Currently, he holds the positions of Director at Department of Urology of second affiliated Hospital, Army Medical University. His current research interests involve precision diagnosis and treatment of urinary diseases. Gan Tian obtained his PhD from Sichuan University. He is currently a researcher at the Institute of Pathology of the First Affiliated Hospital of Army Medical University, focusing on the design and synthesis of medical nanomaterials and their applications in tumor diagnosis and treatment. Information & Authors Information Version history V1 Version 1 28 February 2025 Copyright This work is licensed under a Non Exclusive No Reuse License. Keywords bibliometric analysis diagnosis and treatment nanomedicine nanotechnology prostate cancer Authors Affiliations Pengkang Chang Military Medical University (Army Medical University View all articles by this author Shuaishuai Ding Military Medical University (Army Medical University View all articles by this author Bing-Bing Liang Military Medical University (Army Medical University View all articles by this author Yuhua Cao Military Medical University (Army Medical University View all articles by this author Gan Tian 0000-0001-5754-3418 [email protected] Military Medical University (Army Medical University View all articles by this author Ji Zheng Military Medical University (Army Medical University View all articles by this author Metrics & Citations Metrics Article Usage 294 views 311 downloads .FvxKWukQNSOunydq8rnd { width: 100px; } Citations Download citation Pengkang Chang, Shuaishuai Ding, Bing-Bing Liang, et al. 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