Revolutionizing biomedicine with rare earth element nanoparticles: physical properties and biotechnological potential

Rare earth elements (REEs) are used in the creation of many promising technologies that have the potential to revolutionize many medical and biotechnological fields such as medical imaging, cancer treatment and diagnosis, biosensors and diagnostic kits, tissue engineering and regenerative medicine, cosmetics and dermatology, gene therapy and molecular biology, pharmacology, and drug delivery systems today and in the future. Their use as targeted treatment approaches, biocompatible materials and imaging agents with anticancer, antimicrobial, antibacterial, and antioxidant properties enables revolutionary developments in modern medicine and biotechnology. The versatile uses of these elements may contribute to the development of more effective and sensitive methods in medical treatment and diagnosis in the future. For this reason, they are intensively researched worldwide. The focus of this research is that rare earth elements and their derivatives can provide innovative solutions for diagnosis and treatment at the molecular level. Doping with rare earth elements, which are considered as vitamins of industries, redefines the properties of materials and increases their efficiency. For this reason, research is aimed at obtaining new properties and applications by creating hybrid structures of rare earth elements with different components. In recent years, scientific interest in investigating the molecular interactions of REEs with biomolecules has increased. These studies aim to activate drug-specific molecules in target cells, reduce their side effects, and provide more effective treatment methods. These studies aim to create potential structures in gene therapy, biosensor technologies, and cancer research with modifications performed using REEs. This study investigates the transformative potential of REE nanoparticles in various biotechnological and biomedical applications and emphasizes their promise as versatile tools for innovation in multiple disciplines by highlighting their roles in advancing targeted therapies, reducing side effects and addressing critical challenges in modern healthcare.