Biomedical Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
anticancer drugs to cross the biological barriers and achieve therapeu-
tic concentrations in tumor and check the surrounding normal tissues
from toxic ef ects. Monoclonal antibody nanoparticle complexes are
under investigation for diagnosis as well as targeted delivery of cancer
therapy. Nanoparticle-based optical imaging of tumors as well as con-
trast agents to enhance detection of tumors by magnetic resonance
imaging can be combined with the delivery of cancer therapeutic agents
[169]. h e cytotoxicity and genotoxicity of CdTe QDs were examined in
human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) and suggested that
CdTe QDs have cytotoxic and genotoxic ef ects on HUVECs, and that
ROS generation may be involved in QD-induced DNA damage [170].
Quantum dots (QDs) have shown potential in noninvasive imaging and
monitoring of cancer cells
in vivo
; peptide-linked near-conjugated l u-
orescent QDs applied to label human buccal squamous cell carcinoma
cell line (BcaCD885) were found not to af ect the growth, proliferation,
apoptosis, and tumorigenicity ability and supported the application of
near-infrared l uorescent QDs in noninvasive imaging and monitoring
of cancer cells
in vivo
[171]. A lipid coated quantum dot system that dou-
bles the l uorescence of PEG-grat ed quantum dots at half the dose and
using a tumor-targeted near-infrared imaging agent composed of cancer-
specii c monoclonal anti-nucleosome antibody 2C5, coupled to quantum
dot (QD)-containing polymeric micelles, prepared from a polyethylene
glycol/phosphatidylethanolamine (PEG-PE) conjugate, was produced.
It represents a development that may potentially serve to enhance early
detection for metastases [172]. Nanoparticles, with their superior phys-
ical properties, have become the materials of choice. Owing to inher-
ent magnetic, optical or acoustic attributes, these nanoparticles can be
detected by corresponding imaging modalities in living subjects at a high
spatial and temporal resolution. h ese features allow implanted cells to be
separated from host cells, and have advantages over traditional histologi-
cal methods, as they permit noninvasive, real-time tracking
in vivo
[173].
Chakravarthy
et al.
have reported the ability of nanoconjugates of CdSe/
CdS/ZnS quantum dots (QDs) and doxorubicin (Dox) to target alveolar
macrophages (aMØs), cells that play a critical role in the pathogenesis
of inl ammatory lung injuries. h ey have demonstrated the nanoparticle
platforms which can provide targeted macrophage-selective therapy for
the treatment of pulmonary disease [174]. h eranostic nanomedicine is
emerging as a promising therapeutic paradigm. It takes advantage of the
high capacity of nanoplatforms to ferry cargo and loads onto them both
imaging and therapeutic functions. Iron oxide nanoparticles, quantum
dots, carbon nanotubes, gold nanoparticles and silica nanoparticles, have
