Polymeric theranostics: using polymer-based systems for simultaneous imaging and therapy

Polymer-based nanomedicine is a large and fast growing field. Polymer-based systems have been extensively used as therapeutic carriers as well as bioimaging agents for example in tumour diagnosis. However, fewer polymeric systems have been able to combine both therapy and imaging in a new field that is called theranostics (theragnostics). This review aims to summarise the recent developments and trends on polymeric theranostics. Four different types of therapies/treatments are examined namely drug delivery, gene delivery, photodynamic therapy and hyperthermia treatment combined with different imaging moieties like magnetic resonance imaging agents, fluorescent agents and microbubbles for ultrasound imaging.