Figure 4.

Theranostic agents in molecular recognition processes. (A) A liposomal theranostic agent includes surface antibodies that participate in the molecular recognition process with targeted cells, imaging probes (for diagnostic purposes), and active principles of treatment. (B) Targeting of specific cells occurs via expression of specific surface receptors against which theranostic agents are “immunized”

Note: Both immunized agents and expression of cell biomarkers (low-right corner) are required for the molecular recognition process.