Application of strontium-based nanoparticles in medicine and environmental sciences

The application of nanoparticles is continuously increasing in numerous fields including, medicine and biology, drug delivery, electronic devices, biosensors, catalysts, and agricultural as well as industrial science. Among the nanoparticles, metallic nanoparticles have gained significant interest in the past few years due to their unique physical and chemical characters. Strontium belongs to Group II metallic elements of the periodic table, the same group as calcium and magnesium. Conventionally, strontium is used in bone regeneration, growth stimulant, and ability to stimulate calcium signaling. Henceforth, strontium-based nanoparticles have gained interest in the field of medicine and dentistry due to their similar property with calcium. Besides that, strontium-conjugated nanomaterials exhibit the antimicrobial ability and are efficient in the removal of toxic contaminants from industrial wastewater. Strontium nanoparticles are used in targeted drug delivery and can elicit a prolonged immune response, thus can act as a good immunotherapeutic agent. The applications of strontium nanoparticles have also been found in diabetic patients, where they can control the insulin release and thus regulate the pathophysiology of diabetes. Strontium nanoparticles are also used in wastewater treatment, agriculture, and as gas sensors to sense several toxic gases. The wide application of strontium nanoparticles in several filed of medicine and environmental sciences is summarized in this review. © 2021, The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Nature Switzerland AG.