Magnetic resonance of a dextran-coated magnetic fluid intravenously administered in mice

The Relationship Between the Cross-Linker on Chitosan-Coated Magnetic Nanoparticles and the Properties of Immobilized Papain

The immobilized enzymes' properties can be affected by cross-linkers on the surface of supports. To study how cross-linkers alter enzymes function, chitosan-coated magnetic nanoparticles (CMNPs) with immobilized papain were prepared using glutaraldehyde and or genipin, and then, the properties of the nanoparticles and the immobilized enzymes were assessed. The Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM), Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR), and X-Ray Diffraction (XRD) results showed that the CMNPs were prepared and papain molecules were immobilized on CMNPs by glutaraldehyde (CMNP-Glu-Papain) or by genipin (CMNP-Gen-Papain). Also, the results associated with enzymes activity indicated that the immobilization by glutaraldehyde and genipin increased the pH optimum of papain from 7 to 7.5 and 9, respectively. The kinetic results indicated that the immobilization by genipin slightly affects the enzyme affinity to the substrate. The stability results showed that CMNP-Gen-Papain has more thermal stability than CMNP-Glu-Papain and papain immobilization on CMNPs by genipin leads to stabilization of the enzyme in the presence of polar solvents, probably due to the more hydroxyl groups on CMNPs activated by genipin. In conclusion, this study suggests that there is a relationship between the types of cross-linker on the surface of supports, and the mechanism of action, kinetic parameters, and the stability of immobilized papain.

Upconverting Nanoparticles as a New Bio-Imaging Strategy-Investigating Intracellular Trafficking of Endogenous Processes in Neural Tissue

In recent years, rare-earth-doped upconverting nanoparticles (UCNPs) have been widely used in different life sciences due to their unique properties. Nanoparticles have become a multifunctional and promising new approach to neurobiological disorders and have shown extraordinary application potential to overcome the problems related to conventional treatment strategies. This study evaluated the internalization mechanisms, bio-distribution, and neurotoxicity of NaYF₄:20%Yb³⁺,2%Er³⁺ UCNPs in rat organotypic hippocampal slices. TEM results showed that UCNPs were easily internalized by hippocampal cells and co-localized with selected organelles inside neurons and astrocytes. Moreover, the UCNPs were taken into the neurons via clathrin- and caveolae-mediated endocytosis. Propidium iodide staining and TEM analysis did not confirm the adverse effects of UCNPs on hippocampal slice viability and morphology. Therefore, UCNPs may be a potent tool for bio-imaging and testing new therapeutic strategies for brain diseases in the future.

Tumor vascular heterogeneity and the impact of subtumoral nanoemulsion biodistribution

Aim: Investigate the heterogeneous tumor tissue organization and examine how this condition can interfere with the passive delivery of a lipid nanoemulsion in two breast cancer preclinical models (4T1 and Ehrlich). Materials & methods: The authors used in vivo image techniques to follow the nanoemulsion biodistribution and microtomography, as well as traditional histopathology and electron microscopy to evaluate the tumor structural characteristics. Results & conclusion: Lipid nanoemulsion was delivered to the tumor, vascular organization depends upon the subtumoral localization and this heterogeneous organization promotes a nanoemulsion biodistribution to the highly vascular peripherical region. Also, the results are presented with a comprehensive mathematical model, describing the differential biodistribution in two different breast cancer models, the 4T1 and Ehrlich models.

Radiolabeling of Nanomaterials: Advantages and Challenges

Quantifying the distribution of nanomaterials in complex samples is of great significance to the toxicological research of nanomaterials as well as their clinical applications. Radiotracer technology is a powerful tool for biological and environmental tracing of nanomaterials because it has the advantages of high sensitivity and high reliability, and can be matched with some spatially resolved technologies for non-invasive, real-time detection. However, the radiolabeling operation of nanomaterials is relatively complicated, and fundamental studies on how to optimize the experimental procedures for the best radiolabeling of nanomaterials are still needed. This minireview looks back into the methods of radiolabeling of nanomaterials in previous work, and highlights the superiority of the “last-step” labeling strategy. At the same time, the problems existing in the stability test of radiolabeling and the suggestions for further improvement are also addressed.

Dendronized oligoethylene glycols with phosphonate tweezers for cell-repellent coating of oxide surfaces: coarse-scale and nanoscopic interfacial forces

Coarse-scale and nanoscopic interfacial force measurements unraveled how dendronized oligoethylene glycols with phosphonate tweezers prevent non-specific cell adhesion to oxide surfaces.

Studies on carbon-quantum-dot-embedded iron oxide nanoparticles and their electrochemical response

A report on the synthesis of carbon-quantum-dot-embedded iron oxide nanoparticles (CQD@Fe₃O₄NPs) and their improved electrochemical studies is presented. Fe₃O₄NPs and CQD@Fe₃O₄NPs were synthesized by the wet-chemical co-precipitation method. X-ray diffraction measurements exhibited pure cubic phase with Fd3m space group in Fe₃O₄NPs and CQD@Fe₃O₄NPs. Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy measurements confirmed the functionalization of Fe₃O₄NPs with CQDs. Dynamic light scattering measurements revealed a hydrodynamic radius of 520 nm and 319 nm for Fe₃O₄NPs and CQD@Fe₃O₄NPs, respectively. Moreover, zeta potential measurements showed positively charged Fe₃O₄NPs and negatively charged CQD@Fe₃O₄NPs. High-resolution transmission electron microscopy measurements showed nearly spherical structure with an average size of around 7 nm for Fe₃O₄ in both samples, whereas CQDs were nearly 2 nm in size in CQD@Fe₃O₄NPs. A biocompatibility study showed that CQD@Fe₃O₄NPs were more biocompatible than the bare Fe₃O₄NPs. CQD@Fe₃O₄NPs were then dispersed in chitosan (CHIT) solution, and drop-casted onto an indium tin oxide (ITO) glass substrate for further study. Atomic force microscopy results showed improved surface roughness of the CQD@Fe₃O₄-CHIT/ITO electrode, providing a better biosensing platform. The electrochemical response studies of CQD@Fe₃O₄-CHIT/ITO also showed enhanced electrochemical signal compared to Fe₃O₄-CHIT/ITO electrodes. Thus, a CQD@Fe₃O₄-CHIT/ITO electrode was used for the detection of vitamin D₂ (10-100 ng ml^-1) using a differential pulse voltammetry technique. The sensitivity and limit of detection were obtained as 0.069 µA ng^-1 ml cm^-2 and 2.46 ng ml^-1, respectively.

Dynamic cerebral perfusion parameters and magnetic nanoparticle accumulation assessed by AC biosusceptometry

Cerebral blood flow (CBF) assessment is mainly performed by scintigraphy, computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). New approaches to assess the CBF through the passage of magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs) to blood-brain barrier (BBB) are convenient to help decrease the use of ionizing radiation and unleash the required MRI schedule in clinics. The development of nanomedicine and new biomedical devices, such as the magnetic particle imaging (MPI), enabled new approaches to study dynamic brain blood flow. In this paper, we employed MNPs and the alternating current biosusceptometry (ACB) to study the brain perfusion. We utilized the mannitol, before the MNPs, injection to modulate the BBB permeability and study its effects on the circulation time of the MNPs in the brain of rats. Also, we characterized a new ACB sensor to increase the systems' applicability to study the MNPs' accumulation, especially in the animals' brain. Our data showed that the injection of mannitol increased the circulation time of MNPs in the brain. Also, the mannitol increased the accumulation of MNPs in the brain. This paper suggests the use of the ACB as a tool to study brain perfusion and accumulation of MNPs in studies of new nano agents focused on the brain diagnostics and treatment.

Biodistribution, biocompatibility and targeted accumulation of magnetic nanoporous silica nanoparticles as drug carrier in orthopedics

BACKGROUND

In orthopedics, the treatment of implant-associated infections represents a high challenge. Especially, potent antibacterial effects at implant surfaces can only be achieved by the use of high doses of antibiotics, and still often fail. Drug-loaded magnetic nanoparticles are very promising for local selective therapy, enabling lower systemic antibiotic doses and reducing adverse side effects. The idea of the following study was the local accumulation of such nanoparticles by an externally applied magnetic field combined with a magnetizable implant. The examination of the biodistribution of the nanoparticles, their effective accumulation at the implant and possible adverse side effects were the focus. In a BALB/c mouse model (n = 50) ferritic steel 1.4521 and Ti90Al6V4 (control) implants were inserted subcutaneously at the hindlimbs. Afterwards, magnetic nanoporous silica nanoparticles (MNPSNPs), modified with rhodamine B isothiocyanate and polyethylene glycol-silane (PEG), were administered intravenously. Directly/1/7/21/42 day(s) after subsequent application of a magnetic field gradient produced by an electromagnet, the nanoparticle biodistribution was evaluated by smear samples, histology and multiphoton microscopy of organs. Additionally, a pathohistological examination was performed. Accumulation on and around implants was evaluated by droplet samples and histology.

RESULTS

Clinical and histological examinations showed no MNPSNP-associated changes in mice at all investigated time points. Although PEGylated, MNPSNPs were mainly trapped in lung, liver, and spleen. Over time, they showed two distributional patterns: early significant drops in blood, lung, and kidney and slow decreases in liver and spleen. The accumulation of MNPSNPs on the magnetizable implant and in its area was very low with no significant differences towards the control.

CONCLUSION

Despite massive nanoparticle capture by the mononuclear phagocyte system, no significant pathomorphological alterations were found in affected organs. This shows good biocompatibility of MNPSNPs after intravenous administration. The organ uptake led to insufficient availability of MNPSNPs in the implant region. For that reason, among others, the nanoparticles did not achieve targeted accumulation in the desired way, manifesting future research need. However, with different conditions and dimensions in humans and further modifications of the nanoparticles, this principle should enable reaching magnetizable implant surfaces at any time in any body region for a therapeutic reason.

Magnetic nanoparticles in nanomedicine: a review of recent advances

Nanomaterials, in addition to their small size, possess unique physicochemical properties that differ from bulk materials, making them ideal for a host of novel applications. Magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs) are one important class of nanomaterials that have been widely studied for their potential applications in nanomedicine. Due to the fact that MNPs can be detected and manipulated by remote magnetic fields, it opens a wide opportunity for them to be used in vivo. Nowadays, MNPs have been used for diverse applications including magnetic biosensing (diagnostics), magnetic imaging, magnetic separation, drug and gene delivery, and hyperthermia therapy, etc. Specifically, we reviewed some emerging techniques in magnetic diagnostics such as magnetoresistive (MR) and micro-Hall (μHall) biosensors, as well as the magnetic particle spectroscopy, magnetic relaxation switching and surface enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS)-based bioassays. Recent advances in applying MNPs as contrast agents in magnetic resonance imaging and as tracer materials in magnetic particle imaging are reviewed. In addition, the development of high magnetic moment MNPs with proper surface functionalization has progressed exponentially over the past decade. To this end, different MNP synthesis approaches and surface coating strategies are reviewed and the biocompatibility and toxicity of surface functionalized MNP nanocomposites are also discussed. Herein, we are aiming to provide a comprehensive assessment of the state-of-the-art biological and biomedical applications of MNPs. This review is not only to provide in-depth insights into the different synthesis, biofunctionalization, biosensing, imaging, and therapy methods but also to give an overview of limitations and possibilities of each technology.

How Nanoparticle Physicochemical Parameters Affect Drug Delivery to Cells in the Retina via Systemic Interactions

Minor changes in the composition of poloxamer 188-modified, DEAE-dextran-stabilized (PDD) polybutylcyanoacrylate (PBCA) nanoparticles (NPs), by altering the physicochemical parameters (such as size or surface charge), can substantially influence their delivery kinetics across the blood-retina barrier (BRB) in vivo. We now investigated the physicochemical mechanisms underlying these different behaviors of NP variations at biological barriers and their influence on the cellular and body distribution. Retinal whole mounts from rats injected in vivo with fluorescent PBCA NPs were processed for retina imaging ex vivo to obtain a detailed distribution of NPs with cellular resolution in retinal tissue. In line with previous in vivo imaging results, NPs with a larger size and medium surface charge accumulated more readily in brain tissue, and they could be more easily detected in retinal ganglion cells (RGCs), demonstrating the potential of these NPs for drug delivery into neurons. The biodistribution of the NPs revealed a higher accumulation of small-sized NPs in peripheral organs, which may reduce the passage of these particles into brain tissue via a "steal effect" mechanism. Thus, systemic interactions significantly determine the potential of NPs to deliver markers or drugs to the central nervous system (CNS). In this way, minor changes of NPs' physicochemical parameters can significantly impact their rate of brain/body biodistribution.

Accelerated one-pot synthesis of coated magnetic nanoparticles from iron(ii) as a single precursor

New one-pot synthesis involving a non-conventional stirring regime to obtain coated magnetic nanoparticles characterized by physical and chemical techniques.

Lipid nanoemulsion passive tumor accumulation dependence on tumor stage and anatomical location: a new mathematical model for in vivo imaging biodistribution studies

Nanoparticle delivery to tumor tissue is one of the most important applications of nanomedicine.

Real-time in vivo monitoring of magnetic nanoparticles in the bloodstream by AC biosusceptometry

Background

We introduce and demonstrate that the AC biosusceptometry (ACB) technique enables real-time monitoring of magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs) in the bloodstream. We present an ACB system as a simple, portable, versatile, non-invasive, and accessible tool to study pharmacokinetic parameters of MNPs, such as circulation time, in real time. We synthesized and monitored manganese doped iron oxide nanoparticles in the bloodstream of Wistar rats using two different injection protocols. Aiming towards a translational approach, we also simultaneously evaluated cardiovascular parameters, including mean arterial pressure, heart rate, and episodes of arrhythmia in order to secure the well-being of all animals.

Results

We found that serial injections increased the circulation time compared with single injections. Immediately after each injection, we observed a transitory drop in arterial pressure, a small drop in heart rate, and no episodes of arrhythmia. Although some cardiovascular effects were observed, they were transitory and easily recovered in both protocols.

Conclusions

These results indicate that the ACB system may be a valuable tool for in vivo, real-time MNP monitoring that allows associations with other techniques, such as pulsatile arterial pressure and electrocardiogram recordings, helping ensuring the protocol safety, which is a fundamental step towards clinical applications.

Electronic supplementary material

The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s12951-017-0257-6) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

A study of the formation of magnetically active solid dispersions of phenacetin using atomic and magnetic force microscopy

A lot of pharmaceutical substances have a poor solubility that limits their absorption and distribution to the targeted sites to elicit the desired action without causing untoward effects on healthy cells or tissues. For such drugs, new modes of delivery have to be developed for efficient and effective delivery of the drug to the target site. Formation of magnetically active solid dispersion of such drugs could be a useful approach to addressing this problem because they combine targeted delivery and good solubility. In this work, the distribution of superparamagnetic nanoparticles in the solid dispersion of polyethylene glycol with average molecular weight 950–1050 g/mol and phenacetin was studied using atomic force and magnetic force microscopy. The distribution of nanoparticles was found to be uniform in studied composites. Magnetically active solid dispersions may find application in the production of the capsulated drug delivery systems with enhanced solubility parameters.

Individually Stabilized, Superparamagnetic Nanoparticles with Controlled Shell and Size Leading to Exceptional Stealth Properties and High Relaxivities

Superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles (SPION) have received immense interest for biomedical applications, with the first clinical application as negative contrast agent in magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). However, the first generation MRI contrast agents with dextran-enwrapped, polydisperse iron oxide nanoparticle clusters are limited to imaging of the liver and spleen; this is related to their poor colloidal stability in biological media and inability to evade clearance by the reticuloendothelial system. We investigate the qualitatively different performance of a new generation of individually PEG-grafted core-shell SPION in terms of relaxivity and cell uptake and compare them to benchmark iron oxide contrast agents. These PEG-grafted SPION uniquely enable relaxivity measurements in aqueous suspension without aggregation even at 9.4 T magnetic fields due to their extraordinary colloidal stability. This allows for determination of the size-dependent scaling of relaxivity, which is shown to follow a d2 dependence for identical core-shell structures. The here introduced core-shell SPION with ∼15 nm core diameter yield a higher R2 relaxivity than previous clinically used contrast agents as well as previous generations of individually stabilized SPION. The colloidal stability extends to control over evasion of macrophage clearance and stimulated uptake by SPION functionalized with protein ligands, which is a key requirement for targeted MRI.

Evaluation of High-Yield Purification Methods on Monodisperse PEG-Grafted Iron Oxide Nanoparticles

Fundamental research on nanoparticle (NP) interactions and development of next-generation biomedical NP applications relies on synthesis of monodisperse, functional, core-shell nanoparticles free of residual dispersants with truly homogeneous and controlled physical properties. Still, synthesis and purification of e.g. such superparamagnetic iron oxide NPs remain a challenge. Comparing the success of different methods is marred by the sensitivity of analysis methods to the purity of the product. We synthesize monodisperse, oleic acid (OA)-capped, Fe3O4 NPs in the superparamagnetic size range (3-10 nm). Ligand exchange of OA for poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) was performed with the PEG irreversibly grafted to the NP surface by a nitrodopamine (NDA) anchor. Four different methods were investigated to remove excess ligands and residual OA: membrane centrifugation, dialysis, size exclusion chromatography, and precipitation combined with magnetic decantation. Infrared spectroscopy and thermogravimetric analysis were used to determine the purity of samples after each purification step. Importantly, only magnetic decantation yielded pure NPs at high yields with sufficient grafting density for biomedical applications (∼1 NDA-PEG(5 kDa)/nm(2), irrespective of size). The purified NPs withstand challenging tests such as temperature cycling in serum and long-term storage in biological buffers. Dynamic light scattering, transmission electron microscopy, and small-angle X-ray scattering show stability over at least 4 months also in serum. The successful synthesis and purification route is compatible with any conceivable functionalization for biomedical or biomaterial applications of PEGylated Fe3O4 NPs.

Antibody-based imaging strategies for cancer

Although mainly developed for preclinical research and therapeutic use, antibodies have high antigen specificity, which can be used as a courier to selectively deliver a diagnostic probe or therapeutic agent to cancer. It is generally accepted that the optimal antigen for imaging will depend on both the expression in the tumor relative to normal tissue and the homogeneity of expression throughout the tumor mass and between patients. For the purpose of diagnostic imaging, novel antibodies can be developed to target antigens for disease detection, or current FDA-approved antibodies can be repurposed with the covalent addition of an imaging probe. Reuse of therapeutic antibodies for diagnostic purposes reduces translational costs since the safety profile of the antibody is well defined and the agent is already available under conditions suitable for human use. In this review, we will explore a wide range of antibodies and imaging modalities that are being translated to the clinic for cancer identification and surgical treatment.

Blood Clearance of Citric Acid-Coated Superparamagnetic Iron Oxide Nanoparticles in Rats - a Pilot Study

Superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles are primarily utilized for different biomedical applications such as magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), hyperthermia, cancer treatment, targeted delivery of drugs or genes and biosensors. Nanoparticles are interesting due to their unique proprieties together with minor side effects. It is essential to determine the blood clearance of superparamagnetic nanoparticles (SPIONs) for in vivo biomedical applications, to ensure their optimum clinical use. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the elimination kinetic of citric-acid iron oxide nanoparticles in blood via intravenous injection in rats. Animals were blood sampled at different time intervals, ranging from 30 minutes to 24 hours after injection. The decay of SPIONs in blood was analyzed using electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) technique. The results suggest that the injected iron oxide nanoparticles are rapidly cleared from circulation, with half-life of elimination process from the bloodstream about 14.06 minutes.

Antimicrobial and controlled release studies of a novel nystatin conjugated iron oxide nanocomposite

Nystatin is a tetraene diene polyene antibiotic showing a broad spectrum of antifungal activity. In the present study, we prepared a nystatin nanocomposite (Nyst-CS-MNP) by loading nystatin (Nyst) on chitosan (CS) coated magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs). The magnetic nanocomposites were characterized by X-ray powder diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), thermogravimetry analysis (TGA), vibrating sample magnetometer (VSM), and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The XRD results showed that the MNPs and nanocomposite are pure magnetite. The FTIR analysis confirmed the binding of CS on the surface of the MNPs and also the loading of Nyst in the nanocomposite. The Nyst drug loading was estimated using UV-Vis instrumentation and showing a 14.9% loading in the nanocomposite. The TEM size image of the MNPs, CS-MNP, and Nyst-CS-MNP was 13, 11, and 8 nm, respectively. The release profile of the Nyst drug from the nanocomposite followed a pseudo-second-order kinetic model. The antimicrobial activity of the as-synthesized Nyst and Nyst-CS-MNP nanocomposite was evaluated using an agar diffusion method and showed enhanced antifungal activity against Candida albicans. In this manner, this study introduces a novel nanocomposite that can decrease fungus activity on-demand for numerous medical applications.

Effect of polyethyleneglycol (PEG) chain length on the bio-nano-interactions between PEGylated lipid nanoparticles and biological fluids: from nanostructure to uptake in cancer cells

When nanoparticles (NPs) enter a physiological environment, medium components compete for binding to the NP surface leading to formation of a rich protein shell known as the "protein corona". Unfortunately, opsonins are also adsorbed. These proteins are immediately recognized by the phagocyte system with rapid clearance of the NPs from the bloodstream. Polyethyleneglycol (PEG) coating of NPs (PEGylation) is the most efficient anti-opsonization strategy. Linear chains of PEG, grafted onto the NP surface, are able to create steric hindrance, resulting in a significant inhibition of protein adsorption and less recognition by macrophages. However, excessive PEGylation can lead to a strong inhibition of cellular uptake and less efficient binding with protein targets, reducing the potential of the delivery system. To reach a compromise in this regard we employed a multi-component (MC) lipid system with uncommon properties of cell uptake and endosomal escape and increasing length of PEG chains. Nano liquid chromatography coupled with tandem mass spectrometry (nanoLC-MS/MS) analysis allowed us to accurately determine the corona composition showing that apolipoproteins are the most abundant class in the corona and that increasing the PEG length reduced the protein adsorption and the liposomal surface affinity for apolipoproteins. Due to the abundance of apolipoproteins, we exploited the "protein corona effect" to deliver cationic liposome-human plasma complexes to human prostate cancer PC3 cells that express a high level of scavenger receptor class B type 1 in order to evaluate the cellular uptake efficiency of the systems used. Combining laser scanning confocal microscopy with flow cytometry analysis in PC3 cells we demonstrated that MC-PEG2k is the best compromise between an anti-opsonization strategy and active targeting and could be a promising candidate to treat prostate cancer in vivo.

Human erythrocytes covered with magnetic core-shell nanoparticles for multimodal imaging

Surface functionalization of human red blood cells (hRBCs) with fluorescent and magnetic silica core-shell nanoparticles is used to design a carrier suitable for multimodal imaging with a long circulating time. The coated magnetic hRBCs show no hemolytic activity, while the advantage of the affinity of proteins for silica allows a further coating.

Chain formation and aging process in biocompatible polydisperse ferrofluids: experimental investigation and Monte Carlo simulations

We review the use of Monte Carlo simulations in the description of magnetic nanoparticles dispersed in a liquid carrier. Our main focus is the use of theory and simulation as tools for the description of the properties of ferrofluids. In particular, we report on the influence of polydispersity and short-range interaction on the self-organization of nanoparticles. Such contributions are shown to be extremely important for systems characterized by particles with diameters smaller than 10nm. A new 3D polydisperse Monte Carlo implementation for biocompatible magnetic colloids is proposed. As an example, theoretical and simulation results for an ionic-surfacted ferrofluid dispersed in a NaCl solution are directly compared to experimental data (transmission electron microscopy - TEM, magneto-transmissivity, and electron magnetic resonance - EMR). Our combined theoretical and experimental results suggest that during the aging process two possible mechanisms are likely to be observed: the nanoparticle's grafting decreases due to aggregate formation and the Hamaker constant increases due to oxidation. In addition, we also briefly discuss theoretical agglomerate formation models and compare them to experimental data.

Surface modification of iron oxide nanoparticles by biocompatible polymers for tissue imaging and targeting

Superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles (SPIONs) are excellent MR contrast agents when coated with biocompatible polymers such as hydrophilic synthetic polymers, proteins, polysaccharides, and lipids, which improve their stability and biocompatibility and reduce their aggregation. Various biocompatible materials, coated or conjugated with targeting moieties such as galactose, mannose, folic acid, antibodies and RGD, have been applied to SPION surfaces to provide tissue specificity to hepatocytes, macrophages, and tumor regions in order to reduce non-specific uptake and improve biocompatibility. This review discusses the recent progress in the development of biocompatible and hydrophilic polymers for improving stability of SPIONs and describes the carbohydrates based biocompatible materials that are providing SPIONs with cell/tissue specificity as ligands.

Biodistribution of photosensitizer-magnetic nanoparticle chelate complex in rabbits with VX2 metastatic hepatic carcinoma

AIM: To observe the biodistribution of photosensitizer-magnetic nanoparticle chelate complex (PMNCC) in rabbits with VX2 metastatic hepatic carcinoma.

METHODS: After PNMCC was successfully prepared, a rabbit model of VX2 metastatic hepatic carcinoma was developed. PMNCC was administered via the ear vein on the 16th, 18th and 20th day after induction of metastatic carcinoma, and tumor-bearing rabbits were sacrificed on the 22nd day. Tissue specimens were obtained and the biodistribution of PMNCC was observed by Prussian blue staining, atomic absorption spectroscopy (AAS) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM).

RESULTS: Prussian blue staining and TEM analysis showed that the amount of PMNCC in tumor tissue was significantly higher than those in the liver, spleen, or kidney. The mean relative iron concentration detected by atomic absorption spectroscopy in tumor tissue was 9.09 mg/L ± 2.31 mg/L, significantly higher than those in other organs (all P < 0.01).

CONCLUSION: PMNCC was mainly distributed in tumor tissue in rabbits with VX2 metastatic hepatic carcinoma, and PMNCC has the ability to carry magnetic nanoparticles into tumor cells.

Synthesis of flexible magnetic nanohybrid based on bacterial cellulose under ultrasonic irradiation

Flexible magnetic membrane based on bacterial cellulose (BC) was successfully prepared by in-situ synthesis of the Fe3O4 nanoparticles under different conditions and its properties were characterized. The results demonstrated that the Fe3O4 nanoparticles coated with PEG were well homogeneously dispersed in the BC matrix under ultrasonic irradiation with the saturation magnetization of 40.58 emu/g. Besides that, the membranes exhibited the striking flexibility and mechanical properties. This study provided a green and facile method to inhibit magnetic nanoparticle aggregation without compromising the mechanical properties of the nanocomposites. Magnetically responsive BC membrane would have potential applications in electronic actuators, information storage, electromagnetic shielding coating and anti-counterfeit.

Decreased reticuloendothelial system clearance and increased blood half-life and immune cell labeling for nano- and micron-sized superparamagnetic iron-oxide particles upon pre-treatment with Intralipid

BACKGROUND

Superparamagnetic iron-oxide nanoparticles are useful as contrast agents for anatomical, functional and cellular MRI, drug delivery agents, and diagnostic biosensors. Nanoparticles are generally cleared by the reticuloendothelial system (RES), in particular taken up by Kupffer cells in the liver, limiting particle bioavailability and in-vivo applications. Strategies that decrease the RES clearance and prolong the circulation residence time of particles can improve the in-vivo targeting efficiency.

METHODS

Intralipid 20.0%, an FDA approved nutritional supplement, was intravenously administered in rats at the clinical dose (2g/kg) 1h before intravenous injection of ultra-small superparamagnetic iron-oxide (USPIO) or micron-sized paramagnetic iron-oxide (MPIO) particles. Blood half-life, monocyte labeling efficiency, and particle biodistribution were assessed by magnetic resonance relaxometry, flow cytometry, inductively-coupled plasma MS, and histology.

RESULTS

Pre-treatment with Intralipid resulted in a 3.1-fold increase in USPIO blood half-life and a 2-fold increase in USPIO-labeled monocytes. A 2.5-fold increase in MPIO blood half-life and a 5-fold increase in MPIO-labeled monocytes were observed following Intralipid pre-treatment, with a 3.2-fold increase in mean iron content up to 2.60pg Fe/monocyte. With Intralipid, there was a 49.2% and 45.1% reduction in liver uptake vs. untreated controls at 48h for USPIO and MPIO, respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

Intralipid pre-treatment significantly decreases initial RES uptake and increases in-vivo circulation and blood monocyte labeling efficiency for nano- and micron-sized superparamagnetic iron-oxide particles.

GENERAL SIGNIFICANCE

Our findings can have broad applications for imaging and drug delivery applications, increasing the bioavailability of nano- and micron-sized particles for target sites other than the liver.

Preparation and in vitro evaluation of folate-receptor-targeted SPION-polymer micelle hybrids for MRI contrast enhancement in cancer imaging

Polymer-SPION hybrids were investigated for receptor-mediated localization in tumour tissue. Superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles (SPIONs) prepared by high-temperature decomposition of iron acetylacetonate were monodisperse (9.27 ± 3.37 nm), with high saturation magnetization of 76.8 emu g(-1). Amphiphilic copolymers prepared from methyl methacrylate and PEG methacrylate by atom transfer radical polymerization were conjugated with folic acid (for folate-receptor specificity). The folate-conjugated polymer had a low critical micellar concentration (0.4 mg l(-1)), indicating stability of the micellar formulation. SPION-polymeric micelle clusters were prepared by desolvation of the SPION dispersion/polymer solution in water. Magnetic resonance imaging of the formulation revealed very good contrast enhancement, with transverse (T(2)) relaxivity of 260.4 mM(-1) s(-1). The biological evaluation of the SPION micelles included cellular viability assay (MTT) and uptake in HeLa cells. These studies demonstrated the potential use of these nanoplatforms for imaging and targeting.

Dextran stabilized iron oxide nanoparticles: synthesis, characterization and in vitro studies

Iron oxide nanoparticles are one of the most important genres of nanoparticles with promise. Dextran, a stable biocompatible coating agent was employed in the synthesis of iron oxide nanoparticles in the presence of urea. The morphology of nanoparticles was confirmed by dynamic light scattering and transmission electron microscopy. These particles were also assessed for cytotoxicity, cellular uptake and cell adhesion in vitro using murine fibroblast cell line. The synthesized nanoparticles were superparamagnetic, possessed spherical shape with narrow size distribution and were found to be biocompatible and non-toxic. This study serves as a background for using DIONPs in further in vitro and in vivo studies with a long term goal of using it in biological applications.

Potential of magnetic nanoparticles for targeted drug delivery

Nanoparticles (NPs) play an important role in the molecular diagnosis, treatment, and monitoring of therapeutic outcomes in various diseases. Their nanoscale size, large surface area, unique capabilities, and negligible side effects make NPs highly effective for biomedical applications such as cancer therapy, thrombolysis, and molecular imaging. In particular, nontoxic superparamagnetic magnetic NPs (MNPs) with functionalized surface coatings can conjugate chemotherapeutic drugs or be used to target ligands/proteins, making them useful for drug delivery, targeted therapy, magnetic resonance imaging, transfection, and cell/protein/DNA separation. To optimize the therapeutic efficacy of MNPs for a specific application, three issues must be addressed. First, the efficacy of magnetic targeting/guidance is dependent on particle magnetization, which can be controlled by adjusting the reaction conditions during synthesis. Second, the tendency of MNPs to aggregate limits their therapeutic use in vivo; surface modifications to produce high positive or negative charges can reduce this tendency. Finally, the surface of MNPs can be coated with drugs which can be rapidly released after injection, resulting in targeting of low doses of the drug. Drugs therefore need to be conjugated to MNPs such that their release is delayed and their thermal stability enhanced. This chapter describes the creation of nanocarriers with a high drug-loading capacity comprised of a high-magnetization MNP core and a shell of aqueous, stable, conducting polyaniline derivatives and their applications in cancer therapy. It further summarizes some newly developed methods to synthesize and modify the surfaces of MNPs and their biomedical applications.

RECENT DEVELOPMENT FOR SYNTHESIS OF MAGNETIC NANOPARTICLES FOR BIOMEDICAL APPLICATIONS

An update is presented on some recent syntheses of magnetic nanoparticles developed in our group for potential use in biomedical applications. Particular attention is paid to (i) the preparation of magnetic nanoparticles that are readily dispersed in aqueous solution (ii) the synthesis of alloy magnetic nanoparticles and (iii) novel synthesis methods used to control the physical properties of the nanoparticles.

A facile synthesis of PLGA encapsulated cerium oxide nanoparticles: release kinetics and biological activity

In the present article a facile synthesis of cerium oxide nanoparticles (CNPs) encapsulated in PLGA microparticles is reported. The release kinetics of the CNPs from the PLGA matrix was investigated under acidic, basic and near-neutral pH. A diffusion model was applied to determine the diffusivity of the CNPs from the PLGA matrix. The morphology of the degraded PLGA particles was characterized by high resolution SEM. Superoxide dismutase (SOD) mimetic activity was retained in released CNPs for a longer period of time (∼90 days) under different pH. PLGA encapsulated CNP showed excellent biocompatibility. This study demonstrates a potential strategy to deliver CNPs using biodegradable PLGA that ensures a slow release of the CNPs over a long period of time. Thus, the synthesized PLGA encapsulated CNPs could find potential applications in tissue engineering like bone remodelling and regeneration, and protection from disorders caused by neurodegeneration.

Metabolic pathway and distribution of superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles: in vivo study

Background:

Experimental tissue fusion benefits from the selective heating of superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles (SPIONs) under high frequency irradiation. However, the metabolic pathways of SPIONs for tissue fusion remain unknown. Hence, the goal of this in vivo study was to analyze the distribution of SPIONs in different organs by means of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and histological analysis after a SPION-containing patch implantation.

Methods:

SPION-containing patches were implanted in rats. Three animal groups were studied histologically over six months. Degradation assessment of the SPION-albumin patch was performed in vivo using MRI for iron content localization and biodistribution.

Results:

No SPION degradation or accumulation into the reticuloendothelial system was detected by MRI, MRI relaxometry, or histology, outside the area of the implantation patch. Concentrations from 0.01 μg/mL to 25 μg/mL were found to be hyperintense in T1-like gradient echo sequences. The best differentiation of concentrations was found in T2 relaxometry, susceptibility-sensitive gradient echo sequences, and in high repetition time T2 images. Qualitative and semiquantitative visualization of small concentrations and accumulation of SPIONs by MRI are feasible. In histological liver samples, Kupffer cells were significantly correlated with postimplantation time, but no differences were observed between sham-treated and induction/no induction groups. Transmission electron microscopy showed local uptake of SPIONs in macrophages and cells of the reticuloendothelial system. Apoptosis staining using caspase showed no increased toxicity compared with sham-treated tissue. Implanted SPION patches were relatively inert with slow, progressive local degradation over the six-month period. No distant structural alterations in the studied tissue could be observed.

Conclusion:

Systemic bioavailability may play a role in specific SPION implant toxicity and therefore the local degradation process is a further aspect to be assessed in future studies.

Opsonization, biodistribution, cellular uptake and apoptosis study of PEGylated PBCA nanoparticle as potential drug delivery carrier

PURPOSE

For nanocarrier-based targeted delivery systems, preventing phagocytosis for prolong circulation half life is a crucial task. PEGylated poly(n-butylcyano acrylate) (PBCA) NP has proven a promising approach for drug delivery, but an easy and reliable method of PEGylation of PBCA has faced a major bottleneck.

METHODS

PEGylated PBCA NPs containing docetaxel (DTX) by modified anionic polymerization reaction in aqueous acidic media containing amine functional PEG were made as an single step PEGylation method. In vitro colloidal stability studies using salt aggregation method and antiopsonization property of prepared NPs using mouse macrophage cell line RAW264 were performed. In vitro performance of anticancer activity of prepared formulations was checked on MCF7 cell line. NPs were radiolabeled with 99mTc and intravenously administered to study blood clearance and biodistribution in mice model.

RESULTS

These formulations very effectively prevented phagocytosis and found excellent carrier for drug delivery purpose. In vivo studies display long circulation half life of PBCA-PEG20 NP in comparison to other formulations tested.

CONCLUSIONS

The PEGylated PBCA formulation can work as a novel tool for drug delivery which can prevent RES uptake and prolong circulation half life.