title: Diagnostic nanocarriers for sentinel lymph node imaging.
abstract: In the last decade, methods for the precise localization of sentinel lymph node (SLN) have drawn tremendous attention by cancer surgeons and researchers in the field of medical diagnosis. The accurate identification and characterization of lymph nodes by imaging has important therapeutic and prognostic significance in patients with newly diagnosed cancers. The SLN is the first lymph node that receives lymphatic drainage from the site of a primary tumor. The sentinel node is much more likely to contain metastatic tumor cells than other lymph nodes in the same region. Amongst the various exploited methods for SLN diagnosis, nanocarriers have received increasing attention as lymph node delivery agents. The present review focuses on various such particulate carriers namely radiolabeled sulfur colloids, liposomes, quantum dots, dendrimers and magnetic nanoparticles, which are most extensively studied and have been attributed with the most desirable characteristics for SLN imaging.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Chemical Technology, Matunga, Mumbai 400019, India.
authors.forename: Ratnesh
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Jain
authors.forename: Prajakta
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Dandekar
authors.forename: Vandana
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Patravale
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D003287:Contrast Media / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000737:chemistry; D050091:Dendrimers; D003952:Diagnostic Imaging / Q000379:methods*; D004337:Drug Carriers / Q000737:chemistry*; D006801:Humans; D008081:Liposomes; D008198:Lymph Nodes / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology*; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis; D053758:Nanoparticles / Q000737:chemistry*; D045663:Quantum Dots; D011859:Radiography; D011877:Radionuclide Imaging; D019275:Radiopharmaceuticals / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000737:chemistry; D021701:Sentinel Lymph Node Biopsy; D014463:Ultrasonography
chemical_list: D003287:Contrast Media; D050091:Dendrimers; D004337:Drug Carriers; D008081:Liposomes; D019275:Radiopharmaceuticals