NANOSYSTEMS AS PLATFORMS FOR ADVANCED DIAGNOSTIC IMAGING

Imaging is an essential part of disease prognosis and contrast agents play an important part. Contrast agents enhance the imaging of tissue structure. Contrast agents have become indispensable in the field of medical diagnosis. Despite image-enhancing ability low efficiency of the target tissue requires high concentrations to obtain the desired effect [1]. Although many safer options have been introduced for contrast agents, their ability to passively diffuse into the surrounding area around the target tissue is a major drawback [1]. Nanosystems lower toxicity of the contrast agents, by adding target specificity to the system, which in turn reduces the dose required. Nanosystems offer larger surface area and smaller size compared with traditional contrast agents along with low toxicity. These properties can be streamlined to diagnose the pathological tissue by modifying the charge, size, shape, and target-specific surface moiety [2—4]. Some of the strategies for drug loading and functionalization of nanosystems are depicted in Fig. 10.1.