Enhancing contrast agents and radiotracers performance through hyaluronic acid-coating in neuroradiology and nuclear medicine

Authors

Mario Ganau, Università degli Studi di Cagliari
Nikolaos C. Syrmos, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki
Felice D'Arco, Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children NHS Foundation Trust
Laura Ganau, Università degli Studi di Cagliari
Salvatore Chibbaro, Hopital de Hautepierre
Lara Prisco, University of Oxford Medical Sciences Division
Gianfranco K.I. Ligarotti, Aerospace Medical Institute
Rossano Ambu, Università degli Studi di Cagliari
Andrea Soddu, The University of Western OntarioFollow

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

5-1-2017

Journal

Hellenic Journal of Nuclear Medicine

Volume

20

Issue

2

First Page

166

Last Page

168

URL with Digital Object Identifier

10.1967/s002449910558

Abstract

The use of hyaluronic acid nanoshells has been proposed to encapsulate prodrugs and exploit the mechanisms of interactions between living cells, like endocytes or cancer cells and hyaluronic acid, which is a natural component of the extracellular matrix. In this review we describe the potential and the limits of this promising research trend and discuss the theoretical advantages of such an engineering approach. Is it a possible scalability to increase the efficacy and biodegradability of molecules like contrast media and radiotracers especially for neuroradiology and nuclear medicine studies.