Table 9 Nanocarrier-based imaging agents for cancer diagnosis
Imaging Modality | Target Biomarker | Contrast Agent Type | Sensitivity | Specificity | Clinical Application | Advantages | Disadvantages | References |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) | Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor (VEGFR) | Superparamagnetic Iron Oxide Nanoparticles (SPIONs) | High | High | Tumor detection, Angiogenesis imaging | Non-invasive, High spatial resolution, Multiparametric imaging | Limited target specificity, High cost | [232] |
Positron Emission Tomography (PET) | Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor (EGFR) | Radiolabeled Gold Nanoparticles | High | High | Early diagnosis, Lymph node metastasis detection | High sensitivity, Quantitative imaging, Non-invasive | Radiation exposure, High cost | [232] |
Computed Tomography (CT) | Prostate-Specific Membrane Antigen (PSMA) | Iodine-based Contrast Agents | High | High | Prostate cancer diagnosis, Lymph node and bone metastasis imaging | Rapid imaging, High spatial resolution, Multiplanar imaging | Ionizing radiation, Limited soft tissue contrast | [232] |
Optical Imaging | Cancer Cell-Specific Aptamers | Fluorescent Nanoparticles | High | High | Intraoperative imaging, Tumor margin detection | High target specificity, Real-time imaging, Low cost | Limited tissue penetration, Autofluorescence | [174] |
Ultrasonography | Tumor-Associated Glycoprotein 72 (TAG-72) | Microbubbles | Moderate | Moderate | Ovarian cancer detection, Lymph node metastasis imaging | Real-time imaging, No radiation exposure, Cost-effective | Operator dependence, Limited tissue penetration | [224] |