Theranostic Polymeric Micelles for Cancer Imaging and Therapy

Abstract

Remarkable progress has been made in recent years to establish polymeric micelles as a novel multifunctional platform of nanoscale constructs for cancer diagnosis and therapy. The combination of tumor-targeted imaging and therapy in an “all-in-one” system provides useful modular approaches for tailoring nanostructures to achieve personalized medicine. This chapter will focus on recent advancements in the design of theranostic micellar systems with imaging and therapeutic capabilities. These integrated nanotherapeutic platforms hold considerable promise as the next generation of medicine that allows for early detection of cancer, targeted therapy with minimal toxicity and real-time monitoring of therapy.