Recent Progress on <scp>High‐<i>Z</i> Metal‐Based</scp> Nanomaterials for Cancer Radiosensitization

Abstract

Comprehensive Summary Radiotherapy 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.