Organic coating of metallic nanoparticles for nanomedicine:a theranostic approach against cancer.

Metal nanoparticles have various unusual chemical and physical properties compared with those of metal atoms. The role of organic ligands and their coating is, on the other hand, increasing its importance in nanotechnology and nanomedicine. Once grafted with organic molecules the metallic nanoparticles change their solubility and can therefore be further elaborated and/or entrapped into biopolymers. This approach open novel routes to Theranostic (therapeutics+ diagnostics) applications of nanomedicine. Several metallic nanoparticles will be presented with specific organic coating, synthesis and characterization. Polymeric entrapment and chemical conjugation with specific peptides, giving targeted-nanocarriers, will be also presented together with in vitro imaging and therapy on cancer cells. Finally, the use of these nanocarriers in vivo through combined magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and positron emission tomography (PET) will be also shown. This work has been supported with the funding of the EU-FP7 European project SaveMe (contract number CP-IP 263307-2).