A Comprehensive Review: Versatile Imaging Probe Based on Chemical Materials for Biomedical Applications

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Biomedical Imaging
• Oncology

Background:

• Cancer diagnosis and treatment heavily rely on effective imaging probes and contrast agents.
• Specialized chemical materials enable sensitive detection and amplification of cancer-specific signals for improved visualization.

Purpose of the Study:

• To comprehensively review inorganic and organic chemical materials used as imaging probes for tumor diagnosis and therapy.
• To detail various imaging modalities including Ultrasound (US), Optical (OP), Photoacoustic (PA), X-ray Computed Tomography (CT), Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI), and Radionuclide Imaging (RNI).
• To provide a reference for researchers developing novel imaging probes for oncological applications.

Main Methods:

• Review and synthesis of existing literature on chemical materials for cancer imaging probes.
• Detailed discussion of sophisticated inorganic and organic materials utilized in diverse imaging techniques.
• Comparative analysis of the advantages and disadvantages of different imaging probe types.

Main Results:

• Introduction of a wide range of chemical materials for US, OP, PA, CT, MRI, and RNI.
• Highlighting of advanced materials enabling high sensitivity and signal amplification for tumor visualization.
• Comparison of probe performance across different imaging modalities for diagnosis and therapy.

Conclusions:

• Chemical imaging probes are vital tools for sensitive tumor detection, diagnosis, and targeted therapy.
• The field offers diverse material options with unique advantages and limitations for specific applications.
• Future research should focus on overcoming challenges to further advance imaging probe development for improved cancer care.