17 - Porous silicon for tumour targeting and imaging

Abstract

A porous silicon (PSi) that is a biodegradable semiconductor material with nanoporous holes has been extensively developed for biomedical applications over the past few decades. In particular, researchers have attempted to use the PSi material for the detection and visualization of tumours, since it has excellent biocompatibility and intrinsic photoluminescence. This chapter will summarize examples of PSi materials that have been utilized to target and image tumours and discuss their impact on cancer diagnosis. The PSi microparticles or nanoparticles that can be systemically introduced into the biological system will be discussed with regard to their impact on tumour targeting and imaging.