Multifunctional Nanoparticles for Theranostics and Imaging

A nanoparticle constituted with nanoscale or nanostructured materials can be modified by approximate 1,500 potential sites. This unique property of nanoparticle is the foundation to employ nanostructures possible for theranostics in nanomedicine. The attractive features to nanoparticles (NPs) can result in several advantageous strategies including both drug(s) and imaging agent(s) encapsulated within an individual nanoparticle for simultaneous disease diagnosis and therapy. These nanostructural platforms derive their effectiveness from adequate delivery systems including polymer, dendrimers, nanoshells, nanotubes, micelles, liposomes, lipid-based nanoparticles, magnetic nanoparticles and virus nanoparticles, and so on. The most appealing properties of nanoparticles are their nanoscale size and controllable surface for different modifications. Moreover, compared to traditional molecular-based contrast agents or therapeutic drugs, the great capacity for modified nanoparticle has led to their use as amplifiers for challenging many intractable health issues. Nanomedicine paradigm enables to incorporate different functional substitutions for promoting contrast and/or targeting, such as sensitive imaging or/and long-period therapy, it can be realized by fabrication in an integrated system to improve the process of pharmacokinetics action (absorption, distribution, metabolism and excretion). This chapter focuses on the emerging concept of multifunctional theranostic nanomedicine and the opportunities for imaging engineer with high sensitivity and molecular specificity.