Engineering Fluorescent Nanoparticles for Biomedical Applications

Abstract

Fluorescent nanoparticles (NPs) have been widely studied in preclinical research, for cancer imaging and/or theranostics because of their attractive optical properties. Fluorescent NPs present several advantages compared to free fluorescent dyes, such as indocyanine green, for clinical application. Their design has to comprise not only parameters related to enhanced fluorescence but also provide efficient blood circulation half-life, tumor delivery, biocompatibility, and low toxicity. Safety is one of the most important criteria in NP design for clinical use, which explains, in part, why despite the high number NPs published, only very few have reached clinical trials. In this chapter, we focus on three major groups of fluorescent NPs: quantum dots (QDs), fluorescent dye-loaded inorganic and organic NPs, which include calcium phosphate, silica, lipid, and polymer based NPs. For each, we will briefly highlight their characteristics, advantages, limitations, and engineering strategies employed to enhance their in vivo use and describe preclinical studies. We will emphasize translational relevant work and when applicable describe examples of NPs that were translated to human studies. Finally, we would provide a perspective of the fluorescent NPs advances needed for future human application.