Semiconducting polymer nanoparticles for amplified photoacoustic imaging

Semiconducting polymer nanoparticles (SPNs) are a new class of photonic materials with great potential for biomedical applications. Owing to their large absorption coefficients, tunable optical properties, and high photostability, SPNs have recently been used to improve the sensitivity and resolution of photoacoustic (PA) imaging. In particular, a number of strategies have been explored to design activatable SPNs for amplified in vivo PA imaging. In this review, the recent advances in the development of SPNs as exogenous PA contrasts agents have been summarized and their promising potential as multifunctional probes for cancer theranostics has been discussed. This article is categorized under: Diagnostic Tools > In Vivo Nanodiagnostics and Imaging.