Theranostic agents typically consist of three main components: a targeting moiety, a therapeutic agent, and an imaging agent. The targeting moiety ensures that the theranostic agent binds specifically to diseased cells. The therapeutic agent then exerts its effect, whether that be killing cancer cells, reducing inflammation, or another therapeutic action. The imaging agent allows for real-time visualization of the agent's distribution and efficacy using imaging modalities such as MRI, PET, or fluorescence microscopy.
