Special Issue

Light-Mediated Deep-Tissue Theranostics

Guest editors:

Gang Han, PhD
Assistant Professor,
Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Pharmacology,
University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, Massachusetts 01605
Email:

Jin Xie, PhD
Assistant Professor
Chemistry Department and Bio-Imaging Research Center
University of Georgia, Athens, GA 30602
Email:

Light-mediated imaging and therapy has been extensively studied for the management of cancer, cardiovascular diseases, and neurological disorders. One major impediment, however, is the strong absorbance of light by endogenous tissue components (e.g., hemoglobin and skin melanin), which limits the related applications to superficial positions. Recent advances in materials science, nanotechnology, engineering, and light delivery has led to breakthroughs that transcend the limitation. For instance, novel optimal nanomaterials have been prepared that possess excitation and emission maxima within the first (650–1000 nm) and second near-infrared windows (1100-1400 nm), where tissue absorbance and scattering are at the minimal; X-ray, Cherenkov radiation, ultrasound, and microwave have been exploited as new energy sources to trigger photodynamic therapy or photothermal therapy from under deep tissues; meantime, new imaging methodologies such as photoacoustic imaging, persistent luminescence imaging, chemiluminescence resonance energy transfer imaging, Cherenkov luminescence imaging, and X-ray-induced optical luminescence imaging have also been developed.

This special issue aims to highlight recent progresses in light-mediated deep-tissue theranostics, with an emphasis on the newly developed tools and approaches as well as the challenges and opportunities lie ahead. The journal Theranostics is open to receiving submissions with regard to original research articles, perspectives, and review articles in this area. The topics here should include, but not be limited to:

Emerging optical imaging techniques
Advances in deep-tissue photodynamic and photothermal therapy
Light-based imaging and therapy that can be regulated by X-ray, chemiluminescence, bioluminescence, Cherenkov irradiation, and ultrasound
Novel nanomaterials or nanogadgets that break the depth dependence of conventional imaging/therapy

This special issue will include 12-15 articles that should be submitted by April 1, 2016 and that will be published in late 2016.

Manuscripts for the special issue can be sent directly to the guest editor(s) by email with the subject "Light-Mediated Deep-Tissue Special Issue", or submitted online at http://www.thno.org/ms/submit?subgroup=lmdtt (mark "Light-Mediated Deep-Tissue Special Issue" in the "Suggested reviewers" field to identify the paper).

Detailed formatting instructions, in particular, the formatting of references, can be found in http://www.thno.org/ms/author.

All inquiries should be sent to the guest editor(s) at the above email address.