Nanoparticles for Imaging of Lymphatic System: Challenges and Future Perspective

The lymphatic system is responsible for immune cell trafficking and fluid balance. At the same time, it has been linked to several illnesses, including diabetes, obesity, and cancer metastasis. However, despite its significance, the dearth of appropriate in vivo imaging methods has limited our comprehension of the lymphatic system. Here, we present the progress on the fundamentals of lymphatic imaging, including lymphatic structure, tracer design, and delivery. Also, we discusse the characteristics and design issues of imaging agents based on nanoparticles and offered some insight into the use of nanoparticles in preclinical lymphatic system imaging techniques (fluorescence, photoacoustic, magnetic resonance imaging, radionuclide, multimodal, and other imaging modalities). Finally, we highlight the difficulties in implementing these techniques in clinical settings. Furthermore, we suggested the new developments and paths that nanoparticle-based lymphatic imaging takes, including creative imaging methods, cutting-edge nanoparticle compositions, and possible therapeutic uses.