Clearance Pathways and Tumor Targeting of Imaging Nanoparticles

A basic understanding of how imaging nanoparticles are removed from the normal organs/tissues but retained in the tumors is important for their future clinical applications in early cancer diagnosis and therapy. In this review, we discuss current understandings of clearance pathways and tumor targeting of small-molecule- and inorganic-nanoparticle-based imaging probes with an emphasis on molecular nanoprobes, a class of inorganic nanoprobes that can escape reticuloendothelial system (RES) uptake and be rapidly eliminated from the normal tissues/organs via kidneys but can still passively target the tumor with high efficiency through the enhanced permeability permeability and retention (EPR) effect. The impact…

• CP
  Cancer Prevention and Research Institute of Texas

  Awards: RP120588, RP140544
• NI
  National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases

  Award: 1R01DK103363
• NI
  National Institute of Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering

  Award: R21EB009853