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Nanostructured porous silicon in preclinical imaging: Moving from bench to bedside

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  29 August 2012

Hélder A. Santos*
Affiliation:
Division of Pharmaceutical Technology, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Helsinki, Helsinki FI-00014, Finland
Luis M. Bimbo
Affiliation:
Division of Pharmaceutical Technology, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Helsinki, Helsinki FI-00014, Finland
Barbara Herranz
Affiliation:
Division of Pharmaceutical Technology, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Helsinki, Helsinki FI-00014, Finland
Mohammad-Ali Shahbazi
Affiliation:
Division of Pharmaceutical Technology, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Helsinki, Helsinki FI-00014, Finland; and Department of Pharmaceutics, Faculty of Pharmacy, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran
Jouni Hirvonen
Affiliation:
Division of Pharmaceutical Technology, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Helsinki, Helsinki FI-00014, Finland
Jarno Salonen
Affiliation:
Department of Physics, Laboratory of Industrial Physics, University of Turku, Turku FI-20014, Finland
*
a)Address all correspondence to this author. e-mail: helder.santos@helsinki.fi
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Abstract

Advances in nanotechnology have prompted rapid progress and versatile imaging modalities for diagnostics and treatment of diseases. Molecular imaging is a powerful technique for quantifying physiological changes in vivo using noninvasive imaging probes. These probes are used to image specific cells and tissues within a whole organism. Currently, imaging is an essential part of clinical protocols providing morphological, structural, metabolic and functional information. Using theranostic micro- or nanoparticles, which combine both therapeutic and diagnostic capabilities in one single entity, holds a true promise to propel the biomedical field toward personalized medicine. With this approach, biological processes can be directly and simultaneously monitored with the treatment of the diseases. This mini-review highlights the recent innovative diagnostic imaging aspects of porous silicon (PSi) materials and emphasizes their potential as theranostic platforms and tools for the clinic. Multiple biomedical imaging applications of the PSi materials are also outlined.

Type
Review Article
Copyright
Copyright © Materials Research Society 2012

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References

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