Radiolabeling of bionanomaterials with technetium 99m: current state and future prospects.

Radiolabeling of bionanomaterials with technetium-99m ( ^99m Tc) has become a promising approach in combining the benefits of nanotechnology and nuclear medicine for diagnostic and therapeutic purposes. This review is intended to provide a comprehensive overview of the state-of-the-art of radiolabeling of bionanomaterials with ^99m Tc, highlighting the synthesis methods, labeling mechanisms, biological evaluation, physicochemical characterization and clinical applications of ^99m Tc-labeled bionanomaterials. Various types of nanomaterials are considered in the review, including lipid- and protein-based nanosystems, dendrimers and polymeric nanomaterials. Moreover, the review assesses the challenges presented by this emerging field, such as stability of the radiolabel, potential toxicity of the nanomaterials and regulatory aspects. Finally, promising future perspectives and areas of research development in ^99m Tc-labeled bionanomaterials are discussed.