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Pharmacokinetic issues of imaging with nanoparticles: focusing on carbon nanotubes and quantum dots

With many desirable properties, nanoparticles hold tremendous potential for in vivo molecular imaging and improving the efficacy of small-molecule drugs. The pharmacokinetics (PK) and tissue distribution of nanoparticles largely define their in vivo performance and potential toxicity, which are fundamental issues that need to be elucidated. In this review article, we summarized how molecular imaging techniques (e.g., positron emission tomography, fluorescence imaging, etc.) can facilitate the investigation of PK profiles of nanoparticles using carbon nanotubes (CNTs) and quantum dots (QDs) as representative examples. Different imaging techniques can provide useful insights in monitoring the in vivo behavior and tissue distribution of these nanoparticles, and a number of strategies were utilized to optimize the PK profiles of CNTs and QDs. Based on the available literature reports, it can be concluded that chemical/physical properties of the nanoparticles (e.g., surface functionalization, hydrodynamic size, shape, surface charge, etc.), along with the administration routes/doses, can play critical roles in determining the PK and biodistribution pattern of nanoparticles. Robust chemistry for surface modification of nanoparticles is a prerequisite for successful future biomedical/clinical applications.

Nanotheranostics for personalized medicine

Nanotheranostics, the integration of diagnostic and therapeutic function in one system using the benefits of nanotechnology, is extremely attractive for personalized medicine. Because treating cancer is not a one-size-fits-all scenario, it requires therapy to be adapted to the patient's specific biomolecules. Personalized and precision medicine (PM) does just that. It identifies biomarkers to gain an understanding of the diagnosis and in turn treating the specific disorder based on the precise diagnosis. By predominantly utilizing the unique properties of nanoparticles to achieve biomarker identification and drug delivery, nanotheranostics can be applied to noninvasively discover and target image biomarkers and further deliver treatment based on the biomarker distribution. This is a large and hopeful role theranostics must fill. However, as described in this expert opinion, current nanotechnology-based theranostics systems engineered for PM applications are not yet sufficient. PM is an ever-growing field that will be a driving force for future discoveries in biomedicine, especially cancer theranostics. In this article, the authors dissect the requirements for successful nanotheranostics-based PM.