Nanoparticles for detection, imaging, and diagnostic applications in animals

Abstract

The conventional therapies and modalities have paved the way for the progress and advancement of comparatively finer technologies in the field of theranostics. The advents of nanotechnology have presented a much better alternative as they provide novel diagnostic and therapeutic approaches. This chapter describes the types of nanosystems available for detection, imaging, and treatment. Surface functionalization of nanomaterials makes them very flexible to use in biomedical applications and also enhances their target specificity, besides reducing the cytotoxicity which justifies their use for imaging and detection application in conventional techniques such as magnetic resonance imaging. The specificity of nanoparticles, alongside facilitating the imaging modalities, also helps in targeted treatment such as hyperthermia-based therapy. The introduction of different types of biosensor has made it easier to detect the disease at early stage and thus provide the patient an appropriate treatment timely. Therefore, this chapter puts forth the nanoparticle-based applications in detection, imaging, and diagnostics in animals.