Radio-Labeled Nanoparticles for Biomedical Imaging

In the field of biomedical imaging, developing delivery systems specific to the target site is an ongoing objective for both therapeutic and imaging applications. Typically, nanoparticles range in size from 1 to 100nm, exhibiting unique size-dependent physical and chemical properties including optical, magnetic, catalytic, thermodynamic, and electrochemical traits. The capacity of radiolabeled nanoparticles to improve the detection limits and resolution of imaging applications is constantly being improved upon. Single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) is a powerful nuclear imaging technique that utilizes gamma-emitting radioisotopes to visualize both physiological and functional information at a molecular level. Among molecular imaging modalities, positron emission tomography (PET), due to its high sensitivity, quantitative measurement, limitless depth of tissue penetration, and versatility of chemical probes, has emerged as a major player in nuclear imaging. Radiolabeled nanoparticles have been widely used in biomedical research for drug delivery and diagnostic imaging.