PLGA protein nanocarriers with tailor-made fluorescence/MRI/PET imaging modalities

Effect of Nanoparticle Weight on the Cellular Uptake and Drug Delivery Potential of PLGA Nanoparticles

Biodegradable and biocompatible polymeric nanoparticles (NPs) stand out as a key tool for improving drug bioavailability, reducing the inherent toxicity, and targeting the intended site. Most importantly, the ease of polymer synthesis and its derivatization to add functional properties makes them potentially ideal to fulfill the requirements for intended therapeutic applications. Among many polymers, US FDA-approved poly(l-lactic-co-glycolic) acid (PLGA) is a widely used biocompatible and biodegradable co-polymer in drug delivery and in implantable biomaterials. While many studies have been conducted using PLGA NPs as a drug delivery system, less attention has been given to understanding the effect of NP weight on cellular behaviors such as uptake. Here we discuss the synthesis of PLGA NPs with varying NP weights and their colloidal and biological properties. Following nanoprecipitation, we have synthesized PLGA NP sizes ranging from 60 to 100 nm by varying the initial PLGA feed in the system. These NPs were found to be stable for a prolonged period in colloidal conditions. We further studied cellular uptake and found that these NPs are cytocompatible; however, they are differentially uptaken by cancer and immune cells, which are greatly influenced by NPs' weight. The drug delivery potential of these nanoparticles (NPs) was assessed using doxorubicin (DOX) as a model drug, loaded into the NP core at a concentration of 7.0 ± 0.5 wt % to study its therapeutic effects. The results showed that both concentration and treatment time are crucial factors for exhibiting therapeutic effects, as observed with DOX-NPs exhibiting a higher potency at lower concentrations. The observations revealed that DOX-NPs exhibited a higher cellular uptake of DOX compared to the free-DOX treatment group. This will allow us to reduce the recommended dose to achieve the desired effect, which otherwise required a large dose when treated with free DOX. Considering the significance of PLGA-based nanoparticle drug delivery systems, we anticipate that this study will contribute to the establishment of design considerations and guidelines for the therapeutic applications of nanoparticles.

Contrasting Properties of Polymeric Nanocarriers for MRI-Guided Drug Delivery

Poor pharmacokinetics and low aqueous solubility combined with rapid clearance from the circulation of drugs result in their limited effectiveness and generally high therapeutic doses. The use of nanocarriers for drug delivery can prevent the rapid degradation of the drug, leading to its increased half-life. It can also improve the solubility and stability of drugs, advance their distribution and targeting, ensure a sustained release, and reduce drug resistance by delivering multiple therapeutic agents simultaneously. Furthermore, nanotechnology enables the combination of therapeutics with biomedical imaging agents and other treatment modalities to overcome the challenges of disease diagnosis and therapy. Such an approach is referred to as "theranostics" and aims to offer a more patient-specific approach through the observation of the distribution of contrast agents that are linked to therapeutics. The purpose of this paper is to present the recent scientific reports on polymeric nanocarriers for MRI-guided drug delivery. Polymeric nanocarriers are a very broad and versatile group of materials for drug delivery, providing high loading capacities, improved pharmacokinetics, and biocompatibility. The main focus was on the contrasting properties of proposed polymeric nanocarriers, which can be categorized into three main groups: polymeric nanocarriers (1) with relaxation-type contrast agents, (2) with chemical exchange saturation transfer (CEST) properties, and (3) with direct detection contrast agents based on fluorinated compounds. The importance of this aspect tends to be downplayed, despite its being essential for the successful design of applicable theranostic nanocarriers for image-guided drug delivery. If available, cytotoxicity and therapeutic effects were also summarized.

PLGA-Based Nanomedicine: History of Advancement and Development in Clinical Applications of Multiple Diseases

Research on the use of biodegradable polymers for drug delivery has been ongoing since they were first used as bioresorbable surgical devices in the 1980s. For tissue engineering and drug delivery, biodegradable polymer poly-lactic-co-glycolic acid (PLGA) has shown enormous promise among all biomaterials. PLGA are a family of FDA-approved biodegradable polymers that are physically strong and highly biocompatible and have been extensively studied as delivery vehicles of drugs, proteins, and macromolecules such as DNA and RNA. PLGA has a wide range of erosion times and mechanical properties that can be modified. Many innovative platforms have been widely studied and created for the development of methods for the controlled delivery of PLGA. In this paper, the various manufacturing processes and characteristics that impact their breakdown and drug release are explored in depth. Besides different PLGA-based nanoparticles, preclinical and clinical applications for different diseases and the PLGA platform types and their scale-up issues will be discussed.

Dextran Fluorescent Probes Containing Sulfadiazine and Rhodamine B Groups

Fluorescent imaging has been expanded, as a non-invasive diagnostic modality for cancers, in recent years. Fluorescent probes in the near-infrared window can provide high sensitivity, resolution, and signal-to-noise ratio, without the use of ionizing radiation. Some fluorescent compounds with low molecular weight, such as rhodamine B (RhB) and indocyanine green (ICG), have been used in fluorescent imaging to improve imaging contrast and sensitivity; however, since these probes are excreted from the body quickly, they possess significant restrictions for imaging. To find a potential solution to this, this work investigated the synthesis and properties of novel macromolecular fluorescent compounds. Herein, water-soluble dextran fluorescent compounds (SD-Dextran-RhB) were prepared by the attachment of RhB and sulfadiazine (SD) derivatives to dextran carrier. These fluorescent compounds were then characterized through IR, ¹H NMR, ¹³C NMR, UV, GPC, and other methods. Assays of their cellular uptake and cell cytotoxicity and fluorescent imaging were also performed. Through this study, it was found that SD-Dextran-RhB is sensitive to acidic conditions and possesses low cell cytotoxicities compared to normal 293 cells and HepG2 and HeLa tumor cells. Moreover, SD-Dextran-RhB demonstrated good fluorescent imaging in HepG2 and HeLa cells. Therefore, SD-Dextran-RhB is suitable to be potentially applied as a probe in the fluorescent imaging of tumors.

Phototheranostics for multifunctional treatment of cancer with fluorescence imaging

Phototheranostics stem from the recent advances in nanomedicines and bioimaging to diagnose and treat human diseases. Since tumors' diversity, heterogeneity, and instability limit the clinical application of traditional diagnostics and therapeutics, phototheranostics, which combine light-induced therapeutic and diagnostic modalities in a single platform, have been widely investigated. Numerous efforts have been made to develop phototheranostics for efficient light-induced antitumor therapeutics with minimal side effects. Herein, we review the fundamentals of phototheranostic nanomedicines with their biomedical applications. Furthermore, the progress of near-infrared fluorescence imaging and cancer treatments, including photodynamic therapy and photothermal therapy, along with chemotherapy, immunotherapy, and gene therapy, are summarized. This review also discusses the opportunities and challenges associated with the clinical translation of phototheranostics in pan-cancer research. Phototheranostics can pave the way for future research, improve the quality of life, and prolong cancer patients' survival times.

Dual-modal polypeptide-containing contrast agents for magnetic resonance/fluorescence imaging

Dual-modal magnetic resonance/fluorescent imaging (MRI/FI) attracts moreandmoreattentions in diagnosis of tumors. A corresponding dual-modal imaging agent with sufficient tumor sensitivity and specificity should be matched to improve imaging quality. Tripeptide (RGD) and pentapeptide (YIGSR) were selected as the tumor-targeting groups and attached to gadolinium diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid (Gd-DTPA) and rhodamine B (RhB), and then make two novel polypeptide-based derivatives (RGD-Gd-DTPA-RhB and YIGSR-Gd-DTPA-RhB), respectively. These derivatives were further characterized and their properties, such as cell uptake, cell cytotoxicity, MRI and FI assay, were measured. YIGSR-Gd-DTPA-RhB and RGD-Gd-DTPA-RhB had high relaxivity, good tumor-targeting property, low cell cytotoxicity and good red FI in B16F10 melanoma cells. Moreover, YIGSR-Gd-DTPA-RhB and RGD-Gd-DTPA-RhB possessed high uptake to B16F10 melanoma, and then achieve highly enhanced FI and MRI of tumors in mice for a prolonged time. Therefore, YIGSR-Gd-DTPA-RhB and RGD-Gd-DTPA-RhB can be applied as the potential agents for tumor targeted MRI/FI in vivo.

Coordination-Regulated Terpyridine-Mn(II) Complexes for Photodynamic Therapy Guided by Multiphoton Fluorescence/Magnetic Resonance Imaging

The synergy of multiphoton fluorescence imaging (MP-FI) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) provides an imaging platform with high resolution and unlimited penetration depth for early disease detection. Herein, two kinds of terpyridine-Mn(II) complexes (FD-Mn-O₂NO and FD-Mn-FD) possessing seven and six coordination modes, respectively, were designed rationally for photodynamic therapy (PDT) guided by MP-FI/MRI. The complexes obtain different multiphoton fluorescence/magnetic resonance properties by adjusting the number of terpyridine ligands. Among them, FD-Mn-FD exhibits the following superiorities: (1) The optimal three-photon excitation wavelength of FD-Mn-FD falls at 1450 nm (NIR-II), which brings high sensitivity and deep tissue penetration in MP-FI. (2) FD-Mn-FD has effective longitudinal relaxation efficiency (r₁ = 2.6 m M^-1 s^-1), which can be used for T₁-weighted MRI, overcoming the problems of limited tissue penetration depth and low spatial resolution. (3) FD-Mn-FD generates endogenous ¹O₂ under irradiation by 808 nm light, thereby enhancing the PDT effect in vitro and in vivo. To the best of our knowledge, the complex FD-Mn-FD is the first complex to guide PDT through MP-FI/MRI, providing a blueprint for accurate and effective early detection and timely treatment of the complex in the early stages of cancer.

Fluorescent PLGA Nanocarriers for Pulmonary Administration: Influence of the Surface Charge

Nearly four million yearly deaths can be attributed to respiratory diseases, prompting a huge worldwide health emergency. Additionally, the COVID-19 pandemic’s death toll has surpassed six million, significantly increasing respiratory disease morbidity and mortality rates. Despite recent advances, it is still challenging for many drugs to be homogeneously distributed throughout the lungs, and specifically to reach the lower respiratory tract with an accurate sustained dose and minimal systemic side effects. Engineered nanocarriers can provide increased therapeutic efficacy while lessening potential biochemical adverse reactions. Poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA), a biodegradable polymer, has attracted significant interest as an inhalable drug delivery system. However, the influence of the nanocarrier surface charge and its intratracheal instillation has not been addressed so far. In this study, we fabricated red fluorescent PLGA nanocapsules (NCs)—Cy5/PLGA—with either positive (Cy5/PLGA+) or negative surface charge (Cy5/PLGA-). We report here on their excellent colloidal stability in culture and biological media, and after cryo-storage. Their lack of cytotoxicity in two relevant lung cell types, even for concentrations as high as 10 mg/mL, is also reported. More importantly, differences in the NCs’ cell uptake rates and internalization capacity were identified. The uptake of the anionic system was faster and in much higher amounts—10-fold and 2.5-fold in macrophages and epithelial alveolar cells, respectively. The in vivo study demonstrated that anionic PLGA NCs were retained in all lung lobules after 1 h of being intratracheally instilled, and were found to accumulate in lung macrophages after 24 h, making those nanocarriers especially suitable as a pulmonary immunomodulatory delivery system with a marked translational character.

Endovascular administration of magnetized nanocarriers targeting brain delivery after stroke

The increasing use of mechanical thrombectomy in stroke management has opened the window to local intraarterial brain delivery of therapeutic agents. In this context, the use of nanomedicine could further improve the delivery of new treatments for specific brain targeting, tracking and guidance. In this study we take advantage of this new endovascular approach to deliver biocompatible poly(D-L-lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA) nanocapsules functionalized with superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles and Cy7.5 for magnetic targeting, magnetic resonance and fluorescent molecular imaging. A complete biodistribution study in naïve (n = 59) and ischemic (n = 51) mice receiving intravenous or intraarterial nanocapsules, with two different magnet devices and imaged from 30 min to 48 h, showed an extraordinary advantage of the intraarterial route for brain delivery with a specific improvement in cortical targeting when using a magnetic device in both control and ischemic conditions. Safety was evaluated in ischemic mice (n = 69) showing no signs of systemic toxicity nor increasing mortality, infarct lesions or hemorrhages. In conclusion, the challenging brain delivery of therapeutic nanomaterials could be efficiently and safely overcome with a controlled endovascular administration and magnetic targeting, which could be considered in the context of endovascular interventions for the delivery of multiple treatments for stroke.

PET/Fluorescence Imaging: An Overview of the Chemical Strategies to Build Dual Imaging Tools

Molecular imaging is a biomedical research discipline that has quickly emerged to afford the observation, characterization, monitoring, and quantification of biomarkers and biological processes in living organism. It covers a large array of imaging techniques, each of which provides anatomical, functional, or metabolic information. Multimodality, as the combination of two or more of these techniques, has proven to be one of the best options to boost their individual properties, hence offering unprecedented tools for human health. In this review, we will focus on the combination of positron emission tomography and fluorescence imaging from the specific perspective of the chemical synthesis of dual imaging agents. Based on a detailed analysis of the literature, this review aims at giving a comprehensive overview of the chemical strategies implemented to build adequate imaging tools considering radiohalogens and radiometals as positron emitters, fluorescent dyes mostly emitting in the NIR window and all types of targeting vectors.

Synthesis and Preliminary Biological Assessment of Carborane-Loaded Theranostic Nanoparticles to Target Prostate-Specific Membrane Antigen

Boron neutron capture therapy (BNCT) is an encouraging therapeutic modality for cancer treatment. Prostate-specific membrane antigen (PSMA) is a cell membrane protein that is abundantly overexpressed in prostate cancer and can be targeted with radioligand therapies to stimulate clinical responses in patients. In principle, a spatially targeted neutron beam together with specifically targeted PSMA ligands could enable prostate cancer-targeted BNCT. Thus, we developed and tested PSMA-targeted poly(lactide-co-glycolide)-block-poly(ethylene glycol) (PLGA-b-PEG) nanoparticles (NPs) loaded with carborane and tethered to the radiometal chelator deferoxamine B (DFB) for simultaneous positron emission tomography (PET) imaging and selective delivery of boron to prostate cancer. Monomeric PLGA-b-PEGs were covalently functionalized with either DFB or the PSMA ligand ACUPA. Different nanoparticle formulations were generated by nanoemulsification of the corresponding unmodified and DFB- or ACUPA-modified monomers in varying percent fractions. The nanoparticles were efficiently labeled with ⁸⁹Zr and were subjected to in vitro and in vivo evaluation. The optimized DFB(25)ACUPA(75) NPs exhibited strong in vitro binding to PSMA in direct binding and competition radioligand binding assays in PSMA(+) PC3-Pip cells. [⁸⁹Zr]DFB(25) NPs and [⁸⁹Zr]DFB(25)ACUPA(75) NPs were injected to mice with bilateral PSMA(-) PC3-Flu and PSMA(+) PC3-Pip dual xenografts. The NPs demonstrated twofold superior accumulation in PC3-Pip tumors to that of PC3-Flu tumors with a tumor/blood ratio of 25; however, no substantial effect of the ACUPA ligands was detected. Moreover, fast release of carborane from the NPs was observed, resulting in a low boron delivery to tumors in vivo. In summary, these data demonstrate the synthesis, characterization, and initial biological assessment of PSMA-targeted, carborane-loaded PLGA-b-PEG nanoparticles and establish the foundation for future efforts to enable their best use in vivo.

Polymer-Based Materials and Their Applications in Image-Guided Cancer Therapy

BACKGROUND

Advances in nanotechnology have enabled the combination of disease diagnosis and therapy into a single nano package that has tremendous potential for the development of new theranostic strategies. The variety of polymer-based materials has grown exponentially over the past several decades. Such materials have great potential as carriers in disease detection imaging and image monitoring and in systems for the precise delivery of drugs to specific target sites.

OBJECTIVE

In the present article, we review recent key developments in the synthesis of polymer-based materials for various medical applications and their clinical trials.

CONCLUSION

There is a growing range of multi-faceted, polymer-based materials with various functions. These functions include carriers for image contrast agents, drug delivery systems, and real-time image-guided systems for noninvasive or minimally invasive therapeutic procedures for cancer therapy.

Multifunctional Magnetic Nanoagents for Bioimaging and Therapy

Multifunctional magnetic nanoagents (MMNs) have drawn increasing attention in cancer precision therapy, attributed to their good biocompatibility and the potential applications for multimodal imaging and multidisciplinary therapy. The noble metal or isotopes contained in MMNs could not only perform superparamagnetism, providing an outstanding magnetic targeting property for drug delivery, but also endow the MMNs with a magnetocaloric effect, photothermal performance, and radiotherapy sensitization, arriving at a multimode combination therapy for cancer. Also, the composite component can endow MMNs with various imaging performance, such as magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), computed tomography (CT), positron emission tomography (PET), and single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT), thereby achieving accurate image-guided therapy for cancer. However, the joint function of MMNs is closely correlated with their functional nanocomponents and nanostructures. In this article, we will systematically discuss the design, synthesis, and structure optimization of MMNs, as well as their potential in multimodal diagnosis and therapy, scientifically providing an integrated diagnosis and treatment of nanomedicine for the future cancer therapy.

Small Molecular NIR-II Fluorophores for Cancer Phototheranostics

Phototheranostics integrates deep-tissue imaging with phototherapy (containing photothermal therapy and photodynamic therapy), holding great promise in early diagnosis and precision treatment of cancers. Recently, second near-infrared (NIR-II) fluorescence imaging exhibits the merits of high accuracy and specificity, as well as real-time detection. Among the NIR-II fluorophores, organic small molecular fluorophores have shown superior properties in the biocompatibility, variable structure, and tunable emission wavelength than the inorganic NIR-II materials. What's more, some small molecular fluorophores also display excellent cytotoxicity when illuminated with the NIR laser. This review summarizes the progress of small molecular NIR-II fluorophores with different central cores for cancer phototheranostics in the past few years, focusing on the molecular structures and phototheranostic performances. Furthermore, challenges and prospects of future development toward clinical translation are discussed.

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Phototheranostics combines diagnostic imaging with phototherapy, showing broad applications in the early diagnosis and precise treatment of tumors

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Small molecular NIR-II fluorophores with good biocompatibility, tunable structure, high imaging quality, and excellent phototoxicity, have shown great potential for cancer phototheranostics

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Small molecular NIR-II fluorophores with different central cores for cancer phototheranostics are summarized, highlighting the design strategies and phototheranostic performances

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Challenges and prospects of future development toward clinical translation are discussed

Small Molecular NIR-II Fluorophores for Cancer Phototheranostics

Phototheranostics integrates deep-tissue imaging with phototherapy (containing photothermal therapy and photodynamic therapy), holding great promise in early diagnosis and precision treatment of cancers. Recently, second near-infrared (NIR-II) fluorescence imaging exhibits the merits of high accuracy and specificity, as well as real-time detection. Among the NIR-II fluorophores, organic small molecular fluorophores have shown superior properties in the biocompatibility, variable structure, and tunable emission wavelength than the inorganic NIR-II materials. What's more, some small molecular fluorophores also display excellent cytotoxicity when illuminated with the NIR laser. This review summarizes the progress of small molecular NIR-II fluorophores with different central cores for cancer phototheranostics in the past few years, focusing on the molecular structures and phototheranostic performances. Furthermore, challenges and prospects of future development toward clinical translation are discussed.

Central nervous system delivery of molecules across the blood-brain barrier

Therapies targeting neurological conditions such as Alzheimer's or Parkinson's diseases are hampered by the presence of the blood-brain barrier (BBB). During the last decades, several approaches have been developed to overcome the BBB, such as the use of nanoparticles (NPs) based on biomaterials, or alternative methods to open the BBB. In this review, we briefly highlight these strategies and the most recent advances in this field. Limitations and advantages of each approach are discussed. Combination of several methods such as functionalized NPs targeting the receptor-mediated transcytosis system with the use of magnetic resonance imaging-guided focused ultrasound (FUS) might be a promising strategy to develop theranostic tools as well as to safely deliver therapeutic molecules, such as drugs, neurotrophic factors or antibodies within the brain parenchyma.

Accurate iron quantification in colloids and nanocomposites by a simple UV-Vis protocol

The selection and comparative study is reported of calibration curves to quantify iron by a simple UV-Vis protocol based on the formation of iron (III) chloride complexes. The reliability of each calibration curve was evaluated using statistical and analytical parameters. The robustness of each calibration curve using superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles (SPIONs) of different sizes and surface functionalization is demonstrated . We have also evaluated the effect of the particle coating and estimated the minimum time to ensure the full oxidation of iron (II) to (III) in sample solutions. Results from UV-Vis are comparable with those obtained from ICP-OES and from other spectroscopic techniques to quantify the iron. We advocate the proposed protocol as a simple and non-expensive route to determine accurately the iron content in colloidal and nanocomposite iron-based materials. Graphical abstract.

Efficacy Assessment of an Uncharged Reactivator of NOP-Inhibited Acetylcholinesterase Based on Tetrahydroacridine Pyridine-Aldoxime Hybrid in Mouse Compared to Pralidoxime

(1) Background: Human exposure to organophosphorus compounds employed as pesticides or as chemical warfare agents induces deleterious effects due to cholinesterase inhibition. One therapeutic approach is the reactivation of inhibited acetylcholinesterase by oximes. While currently available oximes are unable to reach the central nervous system to reactivate cholinesterases or to display a wide spectrum of action against the variety of organophosphorus compounds, we aim to identify new reactivators without such drawbacks. (2) Methods: This study gathers an exhaustive work to assess in vitro and in vivo efficacy, and toxicity of a hybrid tetrahydroacridine pyridinaldoxime reactivator, KM297, compared to pralidoxime. (3) Results: Blood–brain barrier crossing assay carried out on a human in vitro model established that KM297 has an endothelial permeability coefficient twice that of pralidoxime. It also presents higher cytotoxicity, particularly on bone marrow-derived cells. Its strong cholinesterase inhibition potency seems to be correlated to its low protective efficacy in mice exposed to paraoxon. Ventilatory monitoring of KM297-treated mice by double-chamber plethysmography shows toxic effects at the selected therapeutic dose. This breathing assessment could help define the No Observed Adverse Effect Level (NOAEL) dose of new oximes which would have a maximum therapeutic effect without any toxic side effects.

GM1 Oligosaccharide Crosses the Human Blood-Brain Barrier In Vitro by a Paracellular Route

Ganglioside GM1 (GM1) has been reported to functionally recover degenerated nervous system in vitro and in vivo, but the possibility to translate GM1′s potential in clinical settings is counteracted by its low ability to overcome the blood–brain barrier (BBB) due to its amphiphilic nature. Interestingly, the soluble and hydrophilic GM1-oligosaccharide (OligoGM1) is able to punctually replace GM1 neurotrophic functions alone, both in vitro and in vivo. In order to take advantage of OligoGM1 properties, which overcome GM1′s pharmacological limitations, here we characterize the OligoGM1 brain transport by using a human in vitro BBB model. OligoGM1 showed a 20-fold higher crossing rate than GM1 and time–concentration-dependent transport. Additionally, OligoGM1 crossed the barrier at 4 °C and in inverse transport experiments, allowing consideration of the passive paracellular route. This was confirmed by the exclusion of a direct interaction with the active ATP-binding cassette (ABC) transporters using the “pump out” system. Finally, after barrier crossing, OligoGM1 remained intact and able to induce Neuro2a cell neuritogenesis by activating the TrkA pathway. Importantly, these in vitro data demonstrated that OligoGM1, lacking the hydrophobic ceramide, can advantageously cross the BBB in comparison with GM1, while maintaining its neuroproperties. This study has improved the knowledge about OligoGM1′s pharmacological potential, offering a tangible therapeutic strategy.