Engineering Intelligent Nanosystems for Enhanced Medical Imaging

Medical imaging serves to obtain anatomical and physiological data, supporting medical diagnostics as well as providing therapeutic evaluation and guidance. A variety of contrast agents have been developed to enhance the recorded signals and to provide molecular imaging. However, fast clearance from the body or nonspecific biodistribution often limit their efficiency, constituting challenges that need to be overcome. Nanoparticle-based systems are currently emerging as versatile and highly integrated platforms providing improved circulating times, tissue specificity, high loading capacity for signaling moieties, and multimodal imaging features. Furthermore, nanoengineered devices can be tuned for specific applications and the development of responsive behaviors. Responses include in situ modulation of nanoparticle size, increased intratissue mobility through active propulsion of motorized particles, and active modulation of the particle surroundings such as the extracellular matrix for an improved penetration and retention at the desired locations. Once accumulated in the targeted tissue, smart nanoparticle-based contrast agents can provide molecular sensing of biomarkers or characteristics of the tissue microenvironment. In this case, the signal or contrast provided by the nanosystem is responsive to the presence or concentration of an analyte. Herein, recent developments of intelligent nanosystems to improve medical imaging are presented.