Dendrimer-based molecular imaging contrast agents.

This review reports recent advances on the use of dendrimer nanotechnology to build up various contrast agents for different single-mode or dual-mode molecular imaging applications. The versatile dendrimer scaffolds with 3-dimensional spherical shape, highly branched internal cavity, and tunable surface conjugation chemistry enable the facile modification of dendrimer surface with different imaging agents ( e.g. , fluorescent dyes, traditional small molecular contrast agents, or metal ion/chelator complexes) and targeting ligands, and convenient entrapment, stabilization, and self-assembly to form various organic or organic/inorganic hybrid nanoparticles that can be used as multifunctional contrast agents for both non-radionuclide- and radionuclide-based molecular imaging applications. In particular, strategies used to generate multifunctional nanoprobes for different modes of targeted molecular imaging of cancer are discussed in detail. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]