title: Techniques for physicochemical characterization of nanomaterials.
abstract: Advances in nanotechnology have opened up a new era of diagnosis, prevention and treatment of diseases and traumatic injuries. Nanomaterials, including those with potential for clinical applications, possess novel physicochemical properties that have an impact on their physiological interactions, from the molecular level to the systemic level. There is a lack of standardized methodologies or regulatory protocols for detection or characterization of nanomaterials. This review summarizes the techniques that are commonly used to study the size, shape, surface properties, composition, purity and stability of nanomaterials, along with their advantages and disadvantages. At present there are no FDA guidelines that have been developed specifically for nanomaterial based formulations for diagnostic or therapeutic use. There is an urgent need for standardized protocols and procedures for the characterization of nanoparticles, especially those that are intended for use as theranostics.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Molecular Imaging, Department of Radiology, Howard University, Washington, DC 20060, USA.
authors.forename: Ping-Chang
authors.initials: PC
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Molecular Imaging, Department of Radiology, Howard University, Washington, DC 20060, USA.
authors.forename: Stephen
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Molecular Imaging, Department of Radiology, Howard University, Washington, DC 20060, USA.
authors.forename: Paul C
authors.initials: PC
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiation Oncology, Howard University, Washington, DC 20060, USA. Electronic address: rsridhar@howard.edu.
authors.forename: Rajagopalan
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Sridhar
mesh_terms: D002627:Chemistry, Physical / Q000379:methods; D002942:Circular Dichroism; D003287:Contrast Media / Q000737:chemistry; D006801:Humans; D008027:Light; D009682:Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy; D013058:Mass Spectrometry; D018625:Microscopy, Atomic Force; D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; D046529:Microscopy, Electron, Transmission; D016252:Microscopy, Scanning Tunneling; D057054:Molecular Imaging / Q000379:methods; D050997:Nanomedicine / Q000379:methods; D053758:Nanoparticles / Q000737:chemistry*; D049329:Nanostructures / Q000737:chemistry*; D036103:Nanotechnology / Q000379:methods* / Q000639:trends*; D012542:Scattering, Radiation; D013050:Spectrometry, Fluorescence; D013055:Spectrophotometry, Infrared; D013059:Spectrum Analysis, Raman; D013499:Surface Properties; D013678:Technology, Pharmaceutical / Q000379:methods
chemical_list: D003287:Contrast Media
keywords: Image contrast agents; Molecular imaging; Nanomedicine; Nanoparticle; Physicochemical properties