Table 3.

Comparison of nanobiotechnology tools in molecular imaging

Tool type	Imaging modalities used	Cancer types applicable	Advantages	Limitations	Refs.
Quantum dots	Fluorescence imaging	Multiple types including breast and prostate cancer	High brightness, stability, tunable emission wavelengths	Potential toxicity, complex synthesis	[135]
Gold nanoparticles	CT, Photoacoustic Imaging	Lung, liver, breast cancer	High atomic number provides excellent contrast, good biocompatibility	Size-dependent distribution, possible immunogenicity	[136]
Magnetic nanoparticles	MRI	Brain, breast, lymphoma	Enhanced contrast in MRI, biocompatible, can be functionalized	Limited sensitivity, potential aggregation in the body	[137]
Liposomes	MRI, Ultrasound	Melanoma, ovarian cancer	Flexible for drug delivery, can be loaded with contrast agents	Variability in size and stability, clearance from the body	[138]
Dendrimers	PET, SPECT	Lymphoma, neuroendocrine tumors	Precise molecular architecture, functionalization capacity	Potential toxicity, complex synthesis process	[139]
Carbon nanotubes	NIR Fluorescence, Raman Imaging	Breast, pancreatic cancer	Strong optical absorption, high photostability	Long-term biocompatibility concerns, potential toxicity	[140]
Silicon nanoparticles	NIR Fluorescence, PET	Breast, prostate cancer	Biodegradable, less toxic, good optical properties	Limited penetration depth, potential cytotoxicity	[141]
Polymeric micelles	MRI, Optical Imaging	Colorectal, skin cancer	Biocompatible, versatile for drug loading	Stability concerns, variable pharmacokinetics	[142]
Nanodiamonds	MRI, Fluorescence Imaging	Brain, neck cancer	Non-toxic, stable, can be functionalized	Production cost, limited tissue penetration	[143]
Iron oxide nanoparticles	MRI, Magnetic Hyperthermia	Liver, lymph node cancer	Superparamagnetic properties, good for hyperthermia	May aggregate in the body, iron overload concerns	[144]
Nanobubbles	Ultrasound, Photoacoustic	Liver, pancreatic cancer	Enhanced ultrasound contrast, potential for drug delivery	Stability in bloodstream, size control challenges	[145]
Upconversion nanoparticles	NIR Fluorescence, CT	Ovarian, lung cancer	Deep tissue penetration, low background noise	Complex synthesis, potential renal toxicity	[146]
Peptide-based nanoparticles	PET, SPECT	Breast, prostate, brain cancer	Target specificity, low toxicity, biodegradability	Rapid clearance, synthesis complexity	[147]
Cerium oxide nanoparticles	Optical Imaging, MRI	Lung, skin cancer	Antioxidant properties, enhances contrast	Long-term stability concerns, cytotoxicity	[148]
Gadolinium nanoparticles	MRI	Brain, kidney cancer	Excellent contrast agent, good for high-resolution imaging	Renal toxicity, requires coating to improve biocompatibility	[149]
Zinc oxide nanoparticles	Fluorescence, UV Imaging	Skin, oral cancer	UV blocking properties, bioimaging applications	Potential cytotoxicity, stability in biological media	[150]
Fullerene-based nanoparticles	Photoacoustic, NIR Imaging	Melanoma, lymphoma	Unique electronic properties, photoacoustic effect	Solubility issues, potential environmental impact	[151]
Mesoporous silica Nanoparticles	MRI, Ultrasound	Liver, breast cancer	High drug loading capacity, controlled release	Potential toxicity, complex functionalization	[152]
bismuth Nanoparticles	X-ray, CT	Lung, bone cancer	High atomic number for contrast, good X-ray attenuation	Potential toxicity, long-term safety concerns	[153]
Silver nanoparticles	Optical, SERS Imaging	Skin, breast cancer	Strong plasmonic properties, enhanced optical signals	Possible silver ion release, cytotoxicity	[154]
Quantum rods	Fluorescence Imaging	Prostate, cervical cancer	High aspect ratio for improved imaging, tunable emission	Synthesis complexity, stability issues	[155]
Albumin-based nanoparticles	MRI, PET	Liver, pancreatic cancer	Biocompatible, natural carrier for drugs and imaging agents	Rapid blood clearance, size variability	[156]
Chitosan nanoparticles	Optical, Ultrasound	Colon, gastric cancer	Biodegradable, non-toxic, good for drug delivery	Inconsistent biodegradation rates, variable purity	[157]
Hybrid nanoparticles	PET/MRI, SPECT/CT	Multiple types, including lymphoma	Combines properties of different materials for multimodal imaging	Complex synthesis, potential for increased toxicity	[158]