Table 1.

Summary of nanoparticle technologies discussed in the text

Discerning Cancer Characteristics	Targets	Nanoparticles	Imaging Modality	Application	Nanoparticle Status	Ref.
Genetic mutations	Mutated or overexpressed gene	Fluorophore-conjugated molecular beacon (MB) targeting survivin and cyclin D1 mRNA	Optical	Theragnostic	Preclinical (in vitro)	2
		Magnetofluorescent nanoparticle conjugated with miRNA-221 MB and AS1411 aptamer	MRI, Optical	Theragnostic	Preclinical (in vivo)	6
		Polyamidoamine dendrimer, conjugated with biotin and avidin with radiolabeled antisense oligonucleotide (RASON)	Scintigraphy	Theragnostic	Preclinical (in vivo)	7
		Caged paramagnetic nanoparticle activated by β-galactosidase reporter gene	MRI	Monitoring therapy	Preclinical (in vivo)	13
		Dextran-coated MION conjugated with holo-transferrin	MRI	Monitoring therapy	Preclinical (in vivo)	14
Protein misregulation	Overexpressed protein	Dextran-coated iron oxide nanoparticle conjugated with Trastuzumab	MRI	Theragnostic	Preclinical (in vivo)	15
		99mTc labeled PEGylated dendrimer with folic acid	SPECT	Diagnostic	Preclinical (in vivo)	16
	Mislocalized protein	111I-labeled tetrameric plectin-targeting peptide nanoparticle	SPECT, CT	Early detection	In development for clinical trial	19
		C2-Synaptotagmin I-conjugated SPION	MRI	Monitoring drug efficacy	Preclinical (in vivo)	20
		Annexin-V-targeted CLION	MRI	Monitoring drug efficacy	Phase II clinical trial	22
Proliferation	Uncontrolled cell division	mPEG-PCLnanoparticle encapsulated with cisplatin in combination with 18F-FDG	MRI, PET	Theragnostic	Preclinical (in vivo)	28
	Transferrin overexpression	HK97-based viral nanoparticle conjugated with fluorescein-5-maleimide	Optical	Theragnostic	Preclinical (in vitro)	33
	Telomerase activity	CLIO-NH2 nanoparticle conjugated with TTAGGG (telomerase synthesized)	MRI	Diagnostic	Preclinical (in vitro)	37
	Folate receptor	99mTc labeled PEGylated dendrimer with folic acid	SPECT	Diagnostic	Preclinical (in vivo)	16
Angiogenesis	Integrin αvβ3	USPION coated with APTMS and conjugated with RGD peptides	MRI	Diagnostic	Preclinical (in vivo)	46
		αvβ3–targeted perfluorocarbon nanoparticle conjugated with fumagillin, modified with paramagnetic chelates	MRI, Optical	Theragnostic	Preclinical (in vivo)	48
		Paramagnetic liposomal nanoparticle with RGD and anginex	MRI	Diagnostic	Preclinical (in vivo)	49
	VEGF	Boronated dendrimers with VEGF121	Optical	Diagnostic	Preclinical (in vivo)	53
		T2-type MION with VEGF tyrosinase kinase inhibitors	MRI	Early detection	Preclinical (in vivo)	55
	Nucleolin	Vascular targeting nanoparticle conjugated with F3 peptide and photofrin	MRI	Theragnostic	Preclinical (in vivo)	56
Invasion & metastasis	Lymph node metastasis	Ferumoxtran-10 (USPION)	MRI	Early detection, Theragnostic	Phase III clinical trial	62-66
	MMP (ECM degradation)	Gadolinium metallofullerenol nanoparticles	MRI	Theragnostic	Preclinical (in vivo)	68
		Dendrimeric nanoparticles conjugated with gadolinium-labeled activatable cell penetrating peptides (ACPPs)	MRI	Diagnostic	Preclinical (in vivo)	69
Abnormal microenvironment	Low extracellular pH	Polymeric-micelle encapsulated with folate, Adriamycin, and hydrazone (for pH-dependent release)	NMR, Flow cytometry	Therapy	Preclinical (in vivo)	88
		Iron oxide nanoparticles conjugated with HER2/neu antibody and doxorubicin coated with pH-sensitive polymer	MRI	Theragnostic	Preclinical (in vivo)	89
	Hypoxia	Polystyrene nanoparticles with oxygen-sensitive palladium mesotetraphenylporphyrin and herceptin	Optical imaging	Diagnostic	Preclinical (in vivo)	94
	Macrophage / leukocyte infiltration	Ferumoxytol (Second-generation USPION)	MRI	Diagnostic	Phase II clinical trial	85
		SPARC-targeted nanoparticle with an iron oxide core	Optical (FMT), CT	Diagnostic	Preclinical (in vivo)	79