Nanoplatforms for Targeted Molecular Imaging in Living Subjects

• Published in: Small (Weinheim an der Bergstrasse, Germany) Vol. 3; no. 11; pp. 1840 - 1854
• Main Authors: Cai, Weibo, Chen, Xiaoyuan
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Weinheim WILEY-VCH Verlag 05.11.2007; WILEY‐VCH Verlag
• Subjects: cancer; Contrast Media; Diagnostic Imaging - trends; Drug Delivery Systems - methods; Humans; Image Enhancement - methods; molecular imaging; Molecular Probe Techniques - trends; nanomedicine; Nanomedicine - trends; nanoplatforms; Nanostructures; nanotechnology
• ISSN: 1613-6810; 1613-6829; 1613-6829
• DOI: 10.1002/smll.200700351

Molecular or personalized medicine is the future of patient management and molecular imaging plays a key role towards this goal. Recently, nanoplatform‐based molecular imaging has emerged as an interdisciplinary field, which involves chemistry, engineering, biology, and medicine. Possessing unprecedented potential for early detection, accurate diagnosis, and personalized treatment of diseases, nanoplatforms have been employed in every single biomedical imaging modality, namely, optical imaging, computed tomography, ultrasound, magnetic resonance imaging, single‐photon‐emission computed tomography, and positron emission tomography. Multifunctionality is the key advantage of nanoplatforms over traditional approaches. Targeting ligands, imaging labels, therapeutic drugs, and many other agents can all be integrated into the nanoplatform to allow for targeted molecular imaging and molecular therapy by encompassing many biological and biophysical barriers. In this Review, we will summarize the current state‐of‐the‐art of nanoplatforms for targeted molecular imaging in living subjects. A view on imaging: Many nanoparticles and a variety of techniques have been used for targeted molecular imaging in living subjects. This Review article takes an overview of the various materials and techniques that are currently at the development stage, undergoing clinical trials, or are even in current usage. The image shows how tumors in mice can be highlighted with quantum dots using near‐infrared fluorescence imaging.