Nanometals and complexes in cancer diagnosis and therapy - Texas A&M University (TAMU) Scholar

2014 by Taylor and Francis Group, LLC. Cancer nanotheranostics have advanced with the advent of nanotechnology due to their unique physicochemical properties, such as quantum confinement in quantum dots, superparamagnetism in certain oxide nanoparticles, and surface-enhanced Raman scattering in metallic nanoparticles (Wang 2012), resulting in the emergence of sensitive and cost-effective imaging agents (Lee 2009). Similarly, their properties, such as large surface area-to-volume ratio, capability to control size, hydrophobicity, and a surface charge according to the intended application, make them valuable carriers for therapeutic drugs and genes (Liu 2007). Many nanocarriers for anticancer drugs (e.g., immunolipsomes of doxorubicin and polymeric micelles with paclitaxel) are being investigated clinically for their targeting capabilities (Matsumura 2004, 2008). Thus, nanoparticles have the required attributes to house therapeutic payloads along with diagnostic imaging agents for real-time monitoring of treatment response (Peer 2007).

Nanometals and complexes in cancer diagnosis and therapy Book