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The use of nano particles in human imaging promises great benefits according to Michael J Welch, PhD, as well as a number of drawbacks.

The surface area of nano particles provides specific characteristics and benefits in their use for carrying products around the body.

Speaking at the keynote RSNA 2008 speech: "Nanotechnology in the Future of Imaging: Prospects & Pitfalls" Dr Welch suggested that this would allow doctors to ask different questions during the diagnostic process. Doctors would move beyond asking whether a person has a particular illness and rather ask much more specific questions such as "what do we know about the receptors on the tumor ... and how can we target it."

However, he also drew attention to EPR side effects from the use of nano particles and showed in slides how this differed in vascular and cardio-vascular diseases. Cardio vascular targets are in the blood stream and not within the cell, so EPR issues do not arise to the same extent.

He summarised the scientific situation as exciting but at a preclinical state where a number of pitfalls had to be addressed before it was useable for clinicians. As he pointed out, if you hook a targeting group onto a nano-particle then you are potentially creating a more massive material that could also be more toxic.

In the shorter term, it is likely to be small pharma companies that are likely to take this forward towards developing contrast agents utilising nano-particles. The longer term picture remains unclear except that nano-particles are likely to make an important contribution to imaging in the future once the challenges have been addressed.