Nanoparticles for bioimaging.
The emergence of synthesis strategies for the fabrication of nanosized contrast agents is anticipated to lead to advancements in understanding biological processes at the molecular level in addition to progress in the development of diagnostic tools and innovative therapies. Imaging agents such as fluorescent dye-doped silica nanoparticles, quantum dots and gold nanoparticles have overcome many of the limitations of conventional contrast agents (organic dyes) such as poor photostability, low quantum yield, insufficient in vitro and in vivo stability, etc. Such particulates are now being developed for absorbance and emission in the near infrared region, which is expected to allow for real time and deep tissue imaging via optical routes. Other efforts to facilitate deep tissue imaging with pre-existing technologies have lead to the development of multimodal nanoparticles which are both optical and MRI active. The main focus of this article is to provide an overview of properties and design of contrast agents such as dye-doped silica nanoparticles, quantum dots and gold nanoparticles for non-invasive bioimaging.
Sharma
Parvesh
P
Particle Engineering Research Center and Material Science and Engineering, University of Florida, Gainesville 32611, USA.
Brown
Scott
S
Walter
Glenn
G
Santra
Swadeshmukul
S
Moudgil
Brij
B
D003287:Contrast Media / Q000737:chemistry*; D003952:Diagnostic Imaging / Q000379:methods*; D007089:Image Enhancement / Q000379:methods*; D015336:Molecular Probe Techniques; D053758:Nanoparticles / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D020349:Surface Plasmon Resonance / Q000379:methods*
D003287:Contrast Media