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. Author manuscript; available in PMC: 2010 Aug 1.
Published in final edited form as: Pharmacol Res. 2010 Jan 5;62(2):57–89. doi: 10.1016/j.phrs.2009.12.011

Table 4.

Nanoparticle-based contrast agents in preclinical development.

Composition Contrast source Target Indication Ref.
Superparamagnetic metal nanoparticles
Poly-L-lysine coated IO IO Mammalian cells Tracking of transplanted cells [330–333]
Antibody-targeted IO IO Her-2 Breast cancer [334]
Peptide/protein-targeted SPIO IO Clotted plasma proteins, MMP-2 Various tumors [335,336]
Radiolabeled antibody-targeted SPIO 111In, IO, IRDye 800CW Membrane glycoproteins, EGFR-2 Various cancers [337,338]
Aptamer-doxorubicin SPIO conjugate IO, doxorubicin PSMA Prostate cancer [339]
Peptide-targeted USPIO IO αvβ3, E-selectin Various tumors, inflammation [340,341]
Antibody-targeted USPIO IO CD20 antigen, E-selectin Non-Hodkin’s lymphoma, inflammation [342,343]
Baculovirus-targeted USPIO IO, LacZ Mammalian cells Gene therapy [344]
Micelle-encapsulated MnSPIO IO Macrophages Liver lesions [345]
Antibody-targeted MnMEIO IO Her-2 Breast cancer [346]
Radiolabeled passive-targeted MnMEIO 124I, IO Lymph nodes Lymph node mapping [347]
Fluorescent CLIO IO, Cy5.5 Macrophages Macrophage infiltration [348]
Radiolabeled fluorescent CLIO 64Cu, IO, Cy5.5 Macrophages Macrophage infiltration [349]
Fluorescent peptide-targeted CLIO IO, Cy5.5/FITC Proteases, bombesin receptor, plectin, uMUC-1, hepsin, αvβ3, H-2Kd, VCAM-1, phosphatidylserine Various tumors, autoreactive T-cells, inflammation, apoptosis [350–357]
Fluorescent siRNA-CLIO conjugate IO, Cy5.5 Birc5 gene Various cancers [358]
Other metal nanoparticles
Polymer-coated gold nanoshells Au Tumor accumulation Solid tumors [287]
Fluorescent passive-targeted gold Au, Hilyte 647 Tumor accumulation Solid tumors [359]
Fluorescent antibody-targeted gold Au, ICG EGFR Epithelial cancer [360]
Antibody-targeted QD QD Her-2, PSMA, VEGFR Various tumors [361,362]
Growth factor-targeted QD QD EGFR Epithelial cancers [363]
Radiolabeled peptide-targeted QD 64Cu, QD αvβ3, VEGF Various cancers [364,365]
Protein-targeted paramagnetic QD Gd, QD Phosphatidylserine Apoptosis [366]
Liposome-based nanoparticles
Radiolabeled peptide-targeted liposomes 18F Macrophages Inflammation [367]
Antibody-targeted paramagnetic liposomes Gd, Texas red ICAM-1 Inflammation and neuroinflammatory disease [368]
Radiolabeled, dye-filled liposomes 99mTc, blue dye Lymph nodes Lymph node identification, inflammation [369,370]
Fluorescent protein-targeted paramagnetic liposomes Gd, AF680 Transferrin receptor, E-selectin Various cancers [371,372]
Electron dense liposomes Iodine – Blood pooling [373]
Synthetic carbon-based nanoparticles
Peptide-targeted SWNT SWNT Integrin αvβ3 Various cancers [374]
Gd-filled fullerenes, fullerenols, and SWNT Gd Macrophages Macrophage infiltration, blood pooling [375–377]
Radiolabeled antibody-targeted SWNT 111In, SWNT CD20 Lymphoma [378]
Radiolabeled peptide-targeted SWNT 64Cu, 111In, SWNT Integrin αvβ3,EGFR Various cancers [379]
Radiolabeled MWNT 99mTc, 125I – TBD [380]
Other platforms
Bismuth sulfide polyvinylpyrrolidone nanoparticles Bi – Blood pooling [381]
Radiolabeled hormone-targeted bacteriophage 111In MC-1 receptor Melanoma [382]
Ioxilan carbonate particles Iodine Macrophages Liver lesions [383]
Antibody-targeted paramagnetic perfluorocarbon emulsions Gd, 19F Fibrin, Integrin αvβ3, collagen III Atherosclerosis [384–386]
Radiolabeled amphiphillic block copolymers 64C Folate receptor Various cancers [387]
Iodinated amphiphillic block copolymers Iodine Macrophages Lymph lesions [388]
Fluorescent paramagnetic dendrimers Gd, Cy5.5 – Sentinal lymph node identification [389]