Top-down particle fabrication: control of size and shape for diagnostic imaging and drug delivery

This review discusses rational design of particles for use as therapeutic vectors and diagnostic imaging agent carriers. The emerging importance of both particle size and shape is considered, and the adaptation and modification of soft lithography methods to produce nanoparticles are highlighted. To this end, studies utilizing particles made via a process called Particle Replication In Non-wetting Templates are discussed. In addition, insights gained into therapeutic cargo and imaging agent delivery from related types of polymer-based carriers are considered. (C) 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. WIREs Nanomed Nanobiotechnol 2009 1 391-404