title: Nano-oncology: drug delivery, imaging, and sensing.
abstract: Innovation in the last decade has endowed nanotechnology with an assortment of tools for delivery, imaging, and sensing in cancer research-stealthy nanoparticle vectors circulating in vivo, assembled with exquisite molecular control, capable of selective tumor targeting and potent delivery of therapeutics; intense and photostable quantum dot-based tumor imaging, enabling multicolor detection of cell receptors with a single optical excitation source; arrays of semiconducting nanowire and carbon nanotube sensor elements for selective multiplexed sensing of cancer markers without the need for probe labeling. These rapidly emerging tools are indicative of a burgeoning field ready to expand into medical applications. This review attempts to outline most of the current nanoparticle toolset for therapeutic release by liposomes, dendrimers, smart polymers, and virus-based systems. Advantages of nanoparticle-based imaging and targeting by use of nanoshells and quantum dots are also explored. Finally, emerging nanoelectronics-based sensing and a global discussion on the utility of each nanoparticle system addresses their fundamental advantages and shortcomings in cancer research.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemical and Environmental Engineering, University of California, Riverside, 900 University Avenue, Riverside, CA 92521, USA.
authors.forename: Nathaniel G
authors.initials: NG
authors.lastname: Portney
authors.forename: Mihrimah
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ozkan
mesh_terms: D015374:Biosensing Techniques / Q000379:methods*; D016503:Drug Delivery Systems; D036103:Nanotechnology / Q000379:methods*; D043942:Nanotubes / Q000737:chemistry; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis*; D045663:Quantum Dots; D013055:Spectrophotometry, Infrared / Q000379:methods