Perfluorocarbons: A perspective of theranostic applications and challenges

Nasrin Kakaei; Roshanak Amirian; Mehdi Azadi; Ghobad Mohammadi; Zhila Izadi

doi:10.3389/fbioe.2023.1115254

Perfluorocarbons: A perspective of theranostic applications and challenges

Front Bioeng Biotechnol. 2023 Aug 3:11:1115254. doi: 10.3389/fbioe.2023.1115254. eCollection 2023.

Authors

Nasrin Kakaei^{1

2}, Roshanak Amirian^{1

2}, Mehdi Azadi^{1

2}, Ghobad Mohammadi³, Zhila Izadi^{2

3}

Affiliations

¹ Student Research Committee, School of Pharmacy, Kermanshah University of Medical Sciences, Kermanshah, Iran.
² USERN Office, Kermanshah University of Medical Sciences, Kermanshah, Iran.
³ Pharmaceutical Sciences Research Center, Health Institute, Kermanshah University of Medical Sciences, Kermanshah, Iran.

Abstract

Perfluorocarbon (PFC) are biocompatible compounds, chemically and biologically inert, and lacks toxicity as oxygen carriers. PFCs nanoemulsions and nanoparticles (NPs) are highly used in diagnostic imaging and enable novel imaging technology in clinical imaging modalities to notice and image pathological and physiological alterations. Therapeutics with PFCs such as the innovative approach to preventing thrombus formation, PFC nanodroplets utilized in ultrasonic medication delivery in arthritis, or PFC-based NPs such as Perfluortributylamine (PFTBA), Pentafluorophenyl (PFP), Perfluorohexan (PFH), Perfluorooctyl bromide (PFOB), and others, recently become renowned for oxygenating tumors and enhancing the effects of anticancer treatments as oxygen carriers for tumor hypoxia. In this review, we will discuss the recent advancements that have been made in PFC's applications in theranostic (therapeutics and diagnostics) as well as assess the benefits and drawbacks of these applications.

Keywords: imaging; nanoparticles; oxygen carrier; perfluorocarbon (PFC); theranostic.

Publication types

Review

Grants and funding

This research has been financially supported by Kermanshah University of Medical Sciences (KUMS).