Review

A review on the role of lipid-based nanoparticles in medical diagnosis and imaging

Biotechnology Research Center, Student Research Committee & Department of Medical Nanotechnology, Faculty of Advanced Medical Sciences, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran

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Saeed Ghanbarzadeh

Cancer Gene Therapy Research Center, Zanjan Pharmaceutical Nanotechnology Research Center & Department of Pharmaceutics, Faculty of Pharmacy, Zanjan University of Medical Sciences, Zanjan, Iran

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Marjan Ghorbani

Stem Cell Research Center, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran

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Amin Gholizadeh

Student Research Committee & Department of Medical Nanotechnology, School of Advanced Technologies in Medicine, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran

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Hamed Hamishehkar

*Author for correspondence: Tel.: +98 41 3336 3311; Fax: +98 41 3336 3231;

E-mail Address: hamishehkar.hamed@gmail.com

Drug Applied Research Center, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran

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Published Online:3 Aug 2018https://doi.org/10.4155/tde-2018-0020

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Abstract

Molecular and diagnostic imaging has been recently a subject of intense research in the treatment of numerous diseases. In medical imaging, there are different modalities with unique strengths including MRI, ultrasound imaging, computed tomography, positron emission tomography and single photon emission computed tomography. These systems need specific contrast agents to achieve a suitable image with the best quality. Nanoparticles represent an innovative tool in imaging field research and diagnostics of various diseases, especially cancerous ones. Among the nanocarriers, lipid-based nanoparticles, such as nanostructured lipid carriers, solid lipid nanoparticles and liposomes, are the most used carriers in imaging because of having many advantageous properties. This review addresses advancements in different lipid-based nanoparticles as tools in medical diagnostic and imaging.

Keywords:

Papers of special note have been highlighted as: • of interest; •• of considerable interest

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Vol. 9, No. 8

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Received 22 March 2018

Accepted 25 June 2018

Published online 3 August 2018

Published in print August 2018

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Financial & competing interests disclosure

The authors have no relevant affiliations or financial involvement with any organization or entity with a financial interest in or financial conflict with the subject matter or materials discussed in the manuscript. This includes employment, consultancies, honoraria, stock ownership or options, expert testimony, grants or patents received or pending, or royalties.

No writing assistance was utilized in the production of this manuscript.

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