Nanoradiopharmaceuticals: Is that the Future for Nuclear Medicine?

Ralph      Santos-Oliveira

doi:10.2174/1874471011104020140

Abstract

New advances in nanotechnology has been responsible for the development of a new science called nanomedicine. In the recent years many discoveries as nanotubes and nanoparticles, especially for pharmaceuticals use, has increasing the application of nanotechnology for medical purposes. In this direction the development of nanoradiopharmaceuticals are also promising as novel radiopharmaceuticals. In this study we made an extensive overview of the most recent advantages in this field of nanotechnology and a fully application to radiopharmaceuticals. Despite, we gaive some nanoradiopharmaceuticals already developed and under investigation for clinical use. The results described that is possible to make nanoradiopharmaceuticals of two ways. The first one directly: nanoencapsulating an already radioactive radiopharmaceuticals. And the second way is nanoencapsulating a non-radioactive ligand for posterior labeling with a radioisotope alikes 99mTc. In both cases the nanoradiopharmaceuticals are acquired. We ended that nanoradiopharmaceuticals are feasible and may represent the future of the nuclear medicine.

Keywords: Nanotechnology, radiopharmaceuticals, pharmacology, nuclear medicine, radiology, DENDRIMERS, CARBON NANOTUBES, Micelles, Nanocrystal, Mesoporous Silica