Nanomaterials for photo-based diagnostic and therapeutic applications
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Date
2013Author
Nguyen, Kytai Truong
Menon, Jyothi Unnikrishna
Jadeja, Parth V.
Tambe, Pranjali P.
Vu, Khanh
Yuan, Baohong
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Show full item recordAbstract
Photo-based diagnosis and treatment methods are gaining prominence due to increased spatial
imaging resolution, minimally invasive modalities involved as well as localized treatment. Recently,
nanoparticles (NPs) have been developed and used in photo-based therapeutic applications. While
some nanomaterials have inherent photo-based imaging capabilities, others including polymeric
NPs act as nanocarriers to deliver various fluorescent dyes or photosensitizers for photoimaging
and therapeutic applications. These applications can vary from Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI)
and optical imaging to photothermal therapy (PTT) and chemotherapy. Materials commonly used
for development of photo-based NPs ranges from metal-based (gold, silver and silica) to polymer-
based (chitosan, dextran, poly ethylene glycol (PEG) and poly lactic-co-glycolic acid (PLGA)).
Recent research has paved the way for multi-modal ‘theranostic’ (a combination of therapy and
diagnosis) nano-carriers capable of active targeting using cell-specific ligands and carrying multiple
therapeutic and imaging agents for accurate diagnosis and controlled drug delivery. This review
summarizes the different materials used today to synthesize photo-based NPs, their diagnostic and
therapeutic applications as well as the current challenges faced in bringing these novel
nano-carriers into clinical practices.