Iron oxide nanoparticles as multimodal imaging tools.

ABSTRACT

In medicine, obtaining simply a resolute and accurate image of an organ of interest is a real challenge. To achieve this, it has recently been proposed to use combined methods in which standard imaging (MRI, PAI, CT, PET/SPEC, USI, OI) is carried out in the presence of iron oxide nanoparticles, thus making it possible to image certain tissues/cells through the specific targeting of these nanoparticles, hence resulting in improved imaging contrast and resolution. Here, the advantages and drawbacks of these combined methods are presented as well as some of their recent medical applications.