Two major hurdles in cancer therapy are early detection of tumors in the body, and efficient delivery of drugs to tumor cell targets. Contrast agents modified to recognize unique and over-expressed markers on the tumor cell surface show great potential in cancer diagnostics. The delivery platform is built on liposomes, polymers, and magnetic nanoparticles with their surface modified for the conjugation of antibodies and peptides for target recognition. The choice of specific nanoplatforms is based on the type of payload ferried by the nanoparticles, and the imaging modality—such as magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), optical whole-body imaging (near-infrared fluorescence dye, bio-luminescence), and computed tomography (CT). For instance, the lab develops MR contrast agents like superparamagnetic iron oxide (SPIO) nanoparticles, and coats them with targeting ligands to selectively localize to target cells via specific molecular interactions. Besides MR detection of diseased cells and tissues, the lab also explores hyperthermia-induced cell killing by applying alternating magnetic fields causing SPIOs to heat up and elevate temperature locally. A quantitative susceptibility mapping (QSM) technique developed by Weill Cornell Medicine’s Dr. Yi Wang is used to quantify the biodistribution and concentration of SPIOs across the whole body.