Cancer Modeling: Modern Imaging Applications in the Development of a Unique Animal Model System to Analyze Cancer Advancement and Treatment

Nanoparticles are theranostic agents exerting both therapeutic and diagnostic purposes. Metallic nanoparticles can image tumor tissues by means of active and passive targeting. Many magnetic nanoparticles are currently approved by FDA. Hydrogel magnetic nanoparticle can carry chemotherapeutic agents and tumor-associated biomolecular binding with good magnetic susceptibility. Dextran-coated magnetic nanoparticles caused accurate cancer nodal staging. Many chemotherapeutics, e.g., methotrexate, doxorubicin, and paclitaxel were formulated with metallic nanoparticles. The uptake of gold and iron oxide nanoparticles conjugated with antibody against cancer antigens increased the precise cancer cells targeting. Multimodal multifunctional nanoparticles (as magnetic nanoparticles) are nanoparticles having different functional abilities in a single stable unit, e.g., a core nanoparticle attached to specific targeting ligands (for the surface molecules on target cells) and an imaging agent to trace the transport progress. Magnetic nanoparticles are excellent biosensors and bioimaging (contrast agents) agents upon using multiple imaging modalities. We suggest using multimodal multifunctional magnetic nanoparticles formed of magnetic nanoparticles conjugated with anti-ferritin antibody (to target surface cancer cells’ ligands), positive charges (to target lactate of Warburg’s effect), and anti-integrin antibodies (to target integrins on cancer cells surface) and to be coupled with high MRI resolution. Adjusting the size and surface coatings of magnetic nanoparticles using future research may reduce toxicity and improve magnetic behaviors. By focusing on improving their drug loading capacity, and increasing their specificity and affinity to target cancer cells, magnetic and multimodal nanoparticles may become suitable for clinical use with integrated imaging and multimodal therapy in the near future and dramatically impact the treatment of cancer.