Nanomedicine and contrast enhanced imaging. Application in cancer diagnosis and therapy
Ioana Iancu 1,2, Adrian Bartoș 1,6, Dana Bartoș 1,2, Andrei Herdean 2, Iulia Betea 1, Bianca Szabo 2, Caius Breazu 3,4, Lidia Ciobanu 5, Cornel Iancu 1,6, Calin Mitre 3,4
Affiliations
Article Info
1 Department of Surgery, Regional Institute of Gastroenterology and Hepatology Cluj-Napoca, Romania
2 Department of Anatomy and Embryolog ,"luliu Hatieganu" University of Medicine and Pharmacy Cluj-Napoca, Romania
3 Department of Anestbesiology and Intensive Care "uliu Hatieganu" Univerity of Medicine and Pharmacy Clu-Napoca, Romania
4 Regional Institute of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Anestbesiology and Intensive Care Unit Cluj-Napoca, Romania
5 Department of Gastroenterology, Regional Institute of Gastroenterology and Hepatology Cluj-Napoca, Romania
6 Department of Surgery, “luliu Hatieganu" University of Medicine and Pharmacy Cluj-Napoca, Romania
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: Nanotechnology and its applications in medicine made us live a new era of healthcare, particularly in oncology. The objective of this paper is to review the contribution of nanotechnology in clinical use of contrast agents for gastrointestinal cancer diagnosis and follow-up and to offer an overview of the impact of nanotechnology in the management of cancer. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In this regard, we reviewed the main areas of expertise where nanotechnology has contributed to the improvement of diagnostic methods (CE-US, CE-CT, MRI), along with the therapeutic applications that nanoparticles can have. Last but not least, the article highlights the potential that theragnostic molecules can have in the diagnosis and treatment of neoplasia, including those in an advanced stage. RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS: Nanomedicine has the ability to improve the specificity and sensitivity of cancer diagnosis, together with the enhancing of the systemic cytostatic effect by developing nano bioconjugates that have a wider effect, higher tumor selectivity and thus, lower systemic toxicity.
Keywords
- Ablative treatment
- Cancer
- Contrast enhanced imaging
- Drug delivery
- Nanomedicine