Iron oxide nanoparticles for targeted cancer imaging and diagnostics

Rosen, Joshua E.; Chan, Lorena; Shieh, Dar-Bin; Gu, Frank X.

doi:10.1016/j.nano.2011.08.017

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Volume 8, Issue 3 , Pages 275-290, April 2012

Iron oxide nanoparticles for targeted cancer imaging and diagnostics

Joshua E. Rosen
- Laboratory of Biopolymers and Nanomedicine, Department of Chemical Engineering, Waterloo Institute for Nanotechnology, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, Ontario, Canada
Lorena Chan
- Laboratory of Biopolymers and Nanomedicine, Department of Chemical Engineering, Waterloo Institute for Nanotechnology, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, Ontario, Canada
Dar-Bin Shieh, DDS, DMSc
- Department of Dentistry and Institute of Oral Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, Taiwan, Republic of China
Frank X. Gu, PhD
- Laboratory of Biopolymers and Nanomedicine, Department of Chemical Engineering, Waterloo Institute for Nanotechnology, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, Ontario, Canada
- Corresponding author: Department of Chemical Engineering, Waterloo Institute for Nanotechnology, 200 University Avenue West, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, Ontario N2L 3G1, Canada.

Received 28 April 2011; accepted 23 August 2011. published online 19 September 2011.

Abstract

Superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles (SPIONs) have proven to be highly effective contrast agents for the magnetic resonance imaging diagnosis of solid tumors. This review examines the various techniques that are available to selectively target SPIONs toward a wide variety of cancerous tissues, with specific attention given to how the surface properties imparted by various targeting ligands affect the particles tissue distribution and pharmacokinetics. An in-depth examination of the various human cell lines utilized to test the assorted targeting methods is also presented, as well as an overview of the various types of cancer against which each targeting method has been utilized for both in vivo and in vitro studies.

From the Clinical Editor

Functionalized superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles (SPIONs) are very potent negative contrast materials for magnetic resonance imaging-based diagnosis. This comprehensive review examines techniques that selectively target SPIONs toward a wide variety of malignancies.