Biomedical Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
Functionalized Biocompatible Nanoparticles
for Site-Specific Imaging and Therapeutics
Ranu K. Dutta, Prashant K. Sharma, Hisatoshi Kobayashi,
and Avinash C. Pandey
Abstract The applicability of nanoparticles is determined by their unique size-
dependent properties, such as their optical and magnetic properties, which make
them very attractive candidates for numerous biomedical applications such as drug
delivery nanosystems, diagnostic biosensors, and imaging nanoprobes for magnetic
resonance imaging contrast agents. Surface chemistry defines the functional
properties and biological reactivity of these nanocrystals. Targeted delivery of
therapeutics has the potential to localize therapeutic agents to a specific tissue as
a mechanism to enhance treatment efficacy and mitigate side effects. Moieties that
combine imaging and therapeutic modalities in a single macromolecular construct
may confer advantages in the development and applications of nanomedicine. Here,
an insight into the development of various kinds of functionalized biocompatible
nanoparticles for site-specific imaging and therapeutics is discussed in detail.
Keywords Biocompatible
Cancer diagnostics
Functionalization
Imaging
Nanoparticles
Surface modification
Targeted drug delivery
Contents
1
Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 234
2
Properties of Nanoparticles ................................................................. 235
3
Surface Modification . . . . ................................................................... 237
4
Surface Modifying Agents . . ............................................................... 238
4.1 Capping and Passivating Agents . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 238
4.2 Role of Surfactants . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 240
R.K. Dutta (
*
), P.K. Sharma, and A.C. Pandey (
*
)
Nanotechnology Application Centre, University of Allahabad, Allahabad 211002, India
H. Kobayashi
Biomaterials Research Group, National Institute of Material Science, Tsukuba, Japan
