Encapsulation of lethal, functional and therapeutic medicinal nanoparticles and quantum dots for the improved diagnosis and treatment of infection

Delivery of therapeutics to the site of need in vivo requires the clever use of some inspired, 'intelligent' and environmentally-responsive platform chemistry. The platform chemistry needs to be and is very crucially to any delivery optimisation both modifiable and adaptable. This can often take the form of stealth encapsulation using polymers and chemical conjugation via 'linkers' to targeting agents. The physical chemistry of the particle body (morphology) and its surface form are frequently pivotal to its function. Other new technology uses immunologic ligands and monoclonal antibodies to target tissues and pathogens. Likewise, use of nanocrystals and quantum dots of heavy metals (gadolinium, silver, gold, copper, cadmium etc) as photonic agents (e.g. PDT), chemical markers or visualisation aids (e.g. contrast agents) for diagnostic methods such as MRI, SPECT and PET is now commonplace. Nano- and pico-metal solids also function as actives for photo-, chemo- and thermo-functionality for the direct treatment of inflammation and infection.