Facile Method of Preparing Multifunctional Nanoparticles with Capabilities of Therapeutics, Targeting, and X-Ray and MRI Detectability

A plethora of examples of nanoscale drug delivery systems with single function now exist in the literature. However, the major challenge facing the field is the development of nanoparticles that can incorporate multiple functions, such as therapeutics, targeting, imaging and stimulus responsiveness, into a single nanocarrier. The development of these types of multifunctional nanoparticles (MNPs) would further advance our capabilities for detection and treatment of diseases. However, methods for the efficient, cost-effective, scalable, and reproducible production of complex smart nanostructures remain elusive. Here, we descibe a facile method for the fabrication of multifunctional drug delivery systems with simultaneous CT and MRI detectability, therapeutic, and targeting capabilities.