Current status and recent progress of nanomaterials in transcatheter arterial chemoembolization therapy for hepatocellular carcinoma.

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) remains one of the most common cancers worldwide. Transcatheter arterial chemoembolization has become a common treatment modality for some patients with unresectable advanced HCC. Since the introduction of nanomaterials in 1974, their use in various fields has evolved rapidly. In medical applications, nanomaterials can serve as carriers for the delivery of chemotherapeutic drugs to tumour tissues. Additionally, nanomaterials have potential for tumour imaging. This article covers the properties and uses of several kinds of nanomaterials, focusing on their use in transcatheter arterial chemoembolization for HCC treatment. This paper also discusses the limitations currently associated with the use of nanomaterials.