How to detect a dwarf - in vivo imaging of nanoparticles in the lung.

Nanotechnology is a rapidly developing field in science and industry. The exposure to nanoparticles (NPs) will steadily grow in the future and, thus, there is an urgent need to study potential impacts of the interaction between NPs and the human body. The respiratory tract is the route of entry for all accidentally inhaled NPs. Moreover, NPs may intentionally be delivered into the lung as contrast agents and drug delivery systems. The present review provides an overview of currently used techniques for the in vivo imaging of NPs in the lung, including X-ray, computed tomography (CT), gamma camera imaging, positron emission tomography (PET), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), near-infrared imaging and intravital fluorescence microscopy. Studies based on these techniques may contribute to the development of novel NP-based drug delivery systems and contrast agents. In addition, they may provide completely new insights into nanotoxicological processes