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.