Toward the Development of a Novel Diagnostic Nano-Imaging Platform for Lung Cancer

Abstract

Abstract Lung cancer (LC) is the second most prevalent type of cancer and the primary cause of mortalities in both men and women worldwide. The most commonly employed diagnostic tools for LC include chest X-ray (CXR), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), computed tomography (CT scan), and fused positron-emitting tomography CT (PET-CT). However, these conventional imaging/screening methods have been associated with various limitations, such as radiation burden to the patient undergoing imaging, misleading diagnosis (“missed lung cancer”), false LC staging or pulmonary metastasis, low sensitivity and resolution, and economic burden to the patient. The lack of a versatile and proficient diagnostic approach for early-stage detection of LC and the limited scope of existing conventional diagnostic approaches compel the development of an advanced proficient diagnostic approach for LC and pulmonary metastasis. In recent decades, enormous advances have taken place in the development and application of various nano-delivery systems for the rational diagnosis of LC and pulmonary metastasis at advanced stages. These nano-imaging systems include metallic and nonmetallic nanocarriers, polymeric nanocarriers (gelatin NPs, chitosan NPs, albumin NPs), and biological nanocarriers (viral nanoparticles). The success of nano-delivery systems based on nano-imaging probes is due to their numerous features including: maximized translocation and uniform biodistribution of imaging agent at the target tissues, yielding enhanced detection signal-intensity, quantification, amplification, and supercontrast prints of anatomical features for surface and deep-tissue imaging. Therefore, in this chapter, we have summarized and critically discussed a plethora of nano-imaging probes, their superiority over conventional imaging approaches for screening of LC and pulmonary metastasis, and current challenges in the clinical transition of nano-imaging probes.