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Review
. 2024 Mar 15:11:1355058.
doi: 10.3389/fmed.2024.1355058. eCollection 2024.

Nano-radiopharmaceuticals as therapeutic agents

Tanu Dixit  1 , Nayomi Dave  1 , Kausani Basu  1 , Pranav Sonawane  1 , Trutuja Gawas  1 , Selvan Ravindran  1
Affiliations
Review

Nano-radiopharmaceuticals as therapeutic agents

Tanu Dixit et al. Front Med (Lausanne). .

Abstract

In recent years, there has been an increased interest in exploring the potential synergy between nanotechnology and nuclear medicine. The application of radioactive isotopes, commonly referred to as radiopharmaceuticals, is recognized in nuclear medicine for diagnosing and treating various diseases. Unlike conventional pharmaceutical agents, radiopharmaceuticals are designed to work without any pharmacological impact on the body. Nevertheless, the radiation dosage employed in radiopharmaceuticals is often sufficiently high to elicit adverse effects associated with radiation exposure. Exploiting their capacity for selective accumulation on specific organ targets, radiopharmaceuticals have utility in treating diverse disorders. The incorporation of nanosystems may additionally augment the targeting capability of radiopharmaceuticals, leveraging their distinct pharmacokinetic characteristics. Conversely, radionuclides could be used in research to assess nanosystems pharmacologically. However, more investigation is needed to verify the safety and effectiveness of radiopharmaceutical applications mediated by nanosystems. The use of nano-radiopharmaceuticals as therapeutic agents to treat various illnesses and disorders is majorly covered in this review. The targeted approach to cancer therapy and various types of nanotools for nano-radiopharmaceutical delivery, is also covered in this article.

Keywords: biodistribution; drug delivery systems; nanomedicine; nanoradiopharmaceuticals; nanotechnology; nuclear medicine; radiopharmaceuticals.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Targeting approach of radiopharmaceuticals in cancer therapy.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Nanotools for the delivery of pharmaceuticals.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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