Radiolabeling of bionanomaterials with technetium 99m: current state and future prospects.

Abstract

Radiolabeling of bionanomaterials with technetium-99m (^99mTc) has become a promising approach in combining the benefits of nanotechnology and nuclear medicine for diagnostic and therapeutic purposes. This review is intended to provide a comprehensive overview of the state-of-the-art of radiolabeling of bionanomaterials with ^99mTc, highlighting the synthesis methods, labeling mechanisms, biological evaluation, physicochemical characterization and clinical applications of ^99mTc-labeled bionanomaterials. Various types of nanomaterials are considered in the review, including lipid- and protein-based nanosystems, dendrimers and polymeric nanomaterials. Moreover, the review assesses the challenges presented by this emerging field, such as stability of the radiolabel, potential toxicity of the nanomaterials and regulatory aspects. Finally, promising future perspectives and areas of research development in ^99mTc-labeled bionanomaterials are discussed.