Theranostics: An Iron Oxide Nanocarrier for dsRNA to Target Lymph Nodes and Strongly Activate Cells of the Immune System (Small 24/2014)

A new nanoparticle system with multimodal imaging features functionalized with immunostimulatory dsRNA (poly (I:C)) is reported by J. C. Mareque-Rivas and co-workers. As described on page 5054, the nanocarrier is capable of reaching endosomal TLR3 in cells of the immune system, significantly enhancing the capacity of poly (I:C) to trigger the induction of cytokines essential for activating the immune system. MRI and SPECT are combined to elucidate its delivery to lymph nodes – the command centres of the immune system.