Synthesis and Surface Modification of Nanoparticles for Biomedical Imaging Applications

Abstract

To improve the imaging specificity for accurate diagnosis, nanoparticle-based contrast agents have been developed for magnetic bioimaging modalities including magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and magnetic particle imaging (MPI). MPI, providing positive contrast, low tissue background (high signal-to-noise ratio) and unlimited tissue penetration depth, has great promise to become clinical imaging tool. Constructing the nanoprobe tailored for MPI based on its inherent properties is critical to achieve its potential. Tumour-targeted delivery of imaging nanoprobes also provides a versatile approach for precision diagnosis of diseases. MRI, owing to its excellent soft tissue sensitivity, high spatial resolution, and lack of ionizing radiation, has been considered as one of the imaging modalities to explore the imaging specificity. Our group has previously developed a tumour microenvironment-sensitive MRI contrast agent that can be further improved by increasing tumour cell targeting and tumour tissue penetration. Surface engineering of nanoparticles offers a critical strategy to improve tumour-targeting capacities of nanoprobes. Improvements to the efficacy of targeted nanoprobes have been intensively explored and much of this work centres on developing reliable and efficient surface functionalization strategies. Herein, in this thesis, various nanoparticles and surface modification approaches have been developed to improve imaging specificity for precision imaging diagnosis. Developing novel and promising nanoprobes based on their inherent properties and different surface modification strategies highlighting on nanoparticle engineering and emerging coating techniques has been described and discussed in this work.