Advanced Drug Delivery Reviews 76 (2014) 1
Contents lists available at ScienceDirect
Advanced Drug Delivery Reviews journal homepage: www.elsevier.com/locate/addr
Preface
Targeted imaging☆
The biomedical molecular imaging faces to challenges that consist of the in vivo localization and visualization of the biochemical, metabolic or functional tissue anomalies, from microscopic to macroscopic scales. Reaching these objectives will necessary passes through the development targeted contrast agents, that is to say exhibiting functionalities allowing the contrast agent to reach the biological targets, hence delivering a signal detectable by medical imaging methods. In order to propose practical solutions in this field, recent research efforts were led, aiming to the development of targeted functionalized nanoparticles or nano-devices, even combining different imaging modalities. In sight of the recent advances in that field, targeted imaging will occupy, with no doubt, a significant place in the near future, in the arsenal of the diagnostic probes and tools for therapeutic imaging. Molecular imaging agents can be targeted to a specific receptor or protein on a specific cell surface, or to enzymes released within the interstitial space. Molecular imaging of the liver, the spleen, the myocardium, … however, requires the imaging agent to be small, sensitive (nanomolar levels or better), and able to gain access to the interstitial space. Several novel agents that fulfill these criteria have been used for targeted molecular imaging applications in different tissues. Magnetic resonance, fluorescence, and single-photon emission computed tomography have been used to image the molecular signals generated by these agents. The use of targeted imaging agents in these different tissues has the potential to provide valuable insights into the pathophysiology of tissue injury and to facilitate the development of novel therapeutic strategies. The present issue proposes to cover this new aspect of medicine, notably focusing on the new approaches for diagnostic and therapy. Targeted imaging is generally achieved with contrast agent nanocarriers. Labeling them will allow to follow their disposition and targeting, and also to use them as contrast agent. A real stake of the
☆ This preface is part of the Advanced Drug Delivery Reviews theme issue on “Targeted Imaging”.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.addr.2014.08.005 0169-409X/© 2014 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
development of targeted imaging lies in precisely controlling, online monitoring and following-up the drug and/or nanocarrier delivery. This objective will contribute to optimize the therapeutics protocols on the one hand (image-guided surgery, developing personalized therapies, monitoring and adapting the treatment to the organism reaction), and to develop advanced diagnosis on the other hand (imaging the targeting of diseases like tumors). Closely related to these objectives, the issue on targeted imaging will aim to cover technical challenges on the tools for the formulation of efficient targeting carriers containing contrast agents, like as follows: choice of ligand/receptor in function of the biological target, formulation of nanocarrier/anchoring the ligand on its surface (in function of the ligand choice), and adapting the formulation to the imaging technique aimed. Thierry F. Vandamme ⁎ Nicolas Anton (Theme Editors) University of Strasbourg, CNRS 7199, Faculty of Pharmacy, Conception and Application of Bioactive Molecules, 74 Route du Rhin, B.P. 60024, 67401 Illkirch Cedex, France ⁎Corresponding author. Tel: +33 3 68 85 41 06; fax: +33 3 68 85 43 25. E:mail address: [email protected] (T.F. Vandamme) Vladimir Torchilin (Theme Editor) Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Center for Pharmaceutical Biotechnology and Nanomedicine, Northeastern University, 360 Huntington Avenue, Boston, MA 02115, USA
Contents lists available at ScienceDirect
Advanced Drug Delivery Reviews journal homepage: www.elsevier.com/locate/addr
Preface
Targeted imaging☆
The biomedical molecular imaging faces to challenges that consist of the in vivo localization and visualization of the biochemical, metabolic or functional tissue anomalies, from microscopic to macroscopic scales. Reaching these objectives will necessary passes through the development targeted contrast agents, that is to say exhibiting functionalities allowing the contrast agent to reach the biological targets, hence delivering a signal detectable by medical imaging methods. In order to propose practical solutions in this field, recent research efforts were led, aiming to the development of targeted functionalized nanoparticles or nano-devices, even combining different imaging modalities. In sight of the recent advances in that field, targeted imaging will occupy, with no doubt, a significant place in the near future, in the arsenal of the diagnostic probes and tools for therapeutic imaging. Molecular imaging agents can be targeted to a specific receptor or protein on a specific cell surface, or to enzymes released within the interstitial space. Molecular imaging of the liver, the spleen, the myocardium, … however, requires the imaging agent to be small, sensitive (nanomolar levels or better), and able to gain access to the interstitial space. Several novel agents that fulfill these criteria have been used for targeted molecular imaging applications in different tissues. Magnetic resonance, fluorescence, and single-photon emission computed tomography have been used to image the molecular signals generated by these agents. The use of targeted imaging agents in these different tissues has the potential to provide valuable insights into the pathophysiology of tissue injury and to facilitate the development of novel therapeutic strategies. The present issue proposes to cover this new aspect of medicine, notably focusing on the new approaches for diagnostic and therapy. Targeted imaging is generally achieved with contrast agent nanocarriers. Labeling them will allow to follow their disposition and targeting, and also to use them as contrast agent. A real stake of the
☆ This preface is part of the Advanced Drug Delivery Reviews theme issue on “Targeted Imaging”.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.addr.2014.08.005 0169-409X/© 2014 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
development of targeted imaging lies in precisely controlling, online monitoring and following-up the drug and/or nanocarrier delivery. This objective will contribute to optimize the therapeutics protocols on the one hand (image-guided surgery, developing personalized therapies, monitoring and adapting the treatment to the organism reaction), and to develop advanced diagnosis on the other hand (imaging the targeting of diseases like tumors). Closely related to these objectives, the issue on targeted imaging will aim to cover technical challenges on the tools for the formulation of efficient targeting carriers containing contrast agents, like as follows: choice of ligand/receptor in function of the biological target, formulation of nanocarrier/anchoring the ligand on its surface (in function of the ligand choice), and adapting the formulation to the imaging technique aimed. Thierry F. Vandamme ⁎ Nicolas Anton (Theme Editors) University of Strasbourg, CNRS 7199, Faculty of Pharmacy, Conception and Application of Bioactive Molecules, 74 Route du Rhin, B.P. 60024, 67401 Illkirch Cedex, France ⁎Corresponding author. Tel: +33 3 68 85 41 06; fax: +33 3 68 85 43 25. E:mail address: [email protected] (T.F. Vandamme) Vladimir Torchilin (Theme Editor) Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Center for Pharmaceutical Biotechnology and Nanomedicine, Northeastern University, 360 Huntington Avenue, Boston, MA 02115, USA
