Biomedical Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
a l uorescein probe together with the antifungal drug amphotericin B or
l uorescein,and the antitumor agent methotrexate have been reported.
Ammonium-functionalized CNTs can also be considered very promising
vectors for gene-encoding nucleic acids. Stable complexes between cat-
ionic CNTs and plasmid DNA have also been demonstrated that enhance
the gene therapeutic capacity in comparison to DNA alone. h erefore,
CNTs are playing a bigger and more important role in the emerging i eld
of nanomedicine [107]. h e nanoscale dendritic RGD clusters have great
potential for tissue engineering and drug delivery applications. h e argi-
nine-glycine-aspartate (RGD) peptides at the nanoscale signii cantly af ect
cell responses. Dendrimers have a unique, highly branched, nearly spheri-
cal and symmetrical structure with low polydispersity, nanoscale size, and
high functionality. h erefore, dendrimers are a class of ideal scaf old for
construction of nanoscale dendritic RGD clusters to trigger more favorable
cellular responses [108]. Micellar nanoparticles made up of surfactants and
polymers have gained wide attention in the materials and biomedical com-
munities for controlled drug delivery, molecular imaging, and sensing. A
new class of robust, ultrai ne silica core-shell nanoparticles formed from
silica crosslinked, individual block copolymer micelles has been reported,
which has improved stability and does not break down during dilution.
Because of their unique structures and properties, these novel core-shell
nanoparticles could potentially provide a new nanomedicine platform for
imaging, detection, and treatment, as well as novel colloidal particles and
building blocks for mutlifunctional materials [109].
6.7
MRI Scanning Nanoparticles
Ya n g
et al.
have developed multifunctional water-soluble superparamag-
netic iron oxide (SPIO) nanocarriers for targeted drug delivery using
positron emission tomography/magnetic resonance imaging (PET/MRI)
dual-modality imaging of tumors with integrin α(v)β3 expression, and sug-
gested that promising properties for combined targeted anticancer drug
delivery and PET/MRI dual-modality imaging of tumors [110]. Dendrimers
and dendrimer-based therapeutics are benei cial for use as anticancer
agents, either encapsulated in or conjugated to dendrimer, and delivered
to the tumor via enhanced permeability and retention (EPR) ef ect of the
nanoparticle and/or with the help of a targeting moiety such as antibody,
peptides, vitamins, and hormones. h e dendrimer-based therapeutics have
long-term viability and biocompatibility for use as nanotherapeutics for
cancer diagnosis and therapy with nanotoxicity, long-term circulation,
