Advances in Targeted Cancer Imaging Using Galactose-Modified Polymeric Nanoparticles: A Systematic Review Publisher



Rasoulianshiadehi M ; Mehrizi TZ ; Eshrati B ; Ardestani MS
Source: Iranian Journal of Nuclear Medicine Published:2026

Abstract

Introduction: Early cancer detection remains challenging due to the limited sensitivity and specificity of conventional imaging. Galactose-functionalized polymeric nanoparticles (Gal-PNPs) target galactose-recognizing receptors, such as asialoglycoprotein receptor (ASGPR) and galectins. This systematic review evaluated their design strategies, imaging efficacy, and biosafety across various cancer models. Methods: Following PRISMA 2020 guidelines, PubMed, Web of Science, and Scopus were searched for English-language original research articles published between 2015 and 2025. Eligible studies included in vivo and ex vivo research employing Gal-PNPs for molecular imaging in cancer. Extracted data encompassed nanoparticle composition, galactosylation chemistry, imaging modality, receptor specificity, biodistribution, and safety outcomes. Given the heterogeneity of nanoparticle types and imaging platforms, a narrative synthesis was performed. The risk of bias was assessed using a modified SYRCLE tool. Results: Twelve studies met the inclusion criteria. Gal-PNPs demonstrated strong performance across fluorescence, near-infrared, PET/CT, nuclear, and photothermal imaging. Most studies targeted hepatocellular carcinoma via ASGPR, while others explored galectin-mediated targeting in bladder, breast, and glioblastoma cancer models. Diverse galactosylation methods, click chemistry, amide coupling, ring opening, and metabolic glycoengineering were applied to polymeric backbones such as dendrimers, chitosan, alginate, and micelles. Gal-PNPs achieved superior tumor selectivity, high tumor-to-background ratios, sustained signal retention, and favorable biocompatibility. Conclusion: Gal-PNPs constitute a selective, biocompatible, and versatile platform for receptor-targeted cancer imaging. Their dual diagnostic and therapeutic potential, combined with molecular adaptability, highlights their translational promise in precision oncology. Future research should extend these systems to non-hepatic malignancies, standardize formulation characterization, and advance clinical imaging validation. © 2026 The Authors. Published by Tehran University of Medical Sciences. This work is published as an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4). Non-commercial uses of the work are permitted, provided the original work is properly cited