Breast cancer cell targeted MR molecular imaging probe: Anti-MUC1 antibody-based magnetic nanoparticles

Development of uMUC-1 Targeted NEMO Particles with pH-Activatable MRI Signals for Enhanced Detection of Malignant Breast Cancer Cells

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) detects more breast cancers than mammography due to its superior soft tissue contrast; however, it still misdiagnoses 40% of benign tumors as malignant due to clinically used nonspecific contrast agents (e.g., gadolinium chelates). To overcome this limitation, we developed receptor-targeted, pH-sensitive Nano-Encapsulated Manganese Oxide (NEMO) particles as an alternative T1-weighted MRI contrast agent. A breast cancer targeting peptide, EPPT, against underglycosylated mucin-1, promotes preferential endocytosis of NEMO particles by malignant cells and specific activation of the MRI signal inside low pH endosomes/lysosomes. In just 30 min, EPPT-NEMO particles produced rapid and robust T1-weighted MRI contrast inside T47D breast cancer cells that reached ∼276% signal enhancement, which was significantly brighter than MCF10A benign control cells (∼57% enhancement). Mn cellular content further confirmed peptide targeting specificity, while confocal microscopy showed the colocalization of EPPT-NEMO particles with endosomes and lysosomes. EPPT-NEMO particles show promise as alternative T1-weighted MRI contrast agents, producing significantly brighter signals in breast cancer cells compared to benign cells within clinically relevant timeframes. These advancements in targeted MRI contrast agents could lead to improved accuracy in breast cancer diagnosis and ultimately to better patient outcomes.

Iron oxide nanoparticles coated with polydopamine as a potential nano-photothermal agent for treatment of melanoma cancer: an in vivo study

Melanoma is a metastatic cancer resistant to a wide range of therapies, including standard chemotherapy and radiation therapy, and cannot be treated with existing treatments owing to its intrinsic drug resistance. In terms of convenience and cheap cost of fabrication, one of the novel treatments is using polydopamine-coated iron oxide nanoparticles (IONs@PDA). Iron oxide nanoparticles (IONs) were synthesized (7.36 nm) and coated with polydopamine (15-20 nm). To examine the effect of photothermal ablation in melanoma cells (B16-F10), a Q-switched ruby laser (λ = 694 nm, spot size = 4 mm, output power = 5 J/s) was used. The prepared nanoprobe was applied to mice, and their survival after treatment was evaluated. Then histopathological studies were done on the livers and skins of the treated mice. The nanoparticles absorb the laser, raising the temperature and initiating photothermal treatment, with significant apoptosis (74%) after the 4th time of treatment. Photothermal therapy (PTT) by using IONs@PDA proved to be effective in the treatment of melanoma cells (tumor size of < 2 mm) without side effects. The lifespan of mice was significantly increased in a group of mice post-administered IONs@PDA and laser ablation. The fabricated nanoprobe (IONs@PDA) enhanced the melanoma cell apoptosis in the mice model, and it has promise for the treatment of melanoma (B16-F10) cells using photothermal therapy.

Performance Analysis of Various Nanocontrast Agents and CAD Systems for Cancer Diagnosis

BACKGROUND

Cancer is a disease which involves the abnormal cell growth that has the potential of dispersal to other parts of the body. Among various conventional anatomical imaging techniques for cancer diagnosis, Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) provides the best spatial resolution and is noninvasive. Current efforts are directed at enhancing the capabilities of MRI in oncology by adding contrast agents.

DISCUSSION

Recently, the superior properties of nanomaterials (extremely smaller in size, good biocompatibility and ease in chemical modification) allow its application as a contrast agent for early and specific cancer detection through the MRI. The precise detection of cancer region from any imaging modality will lead to a thriving treatment for cancer patients. The better localization of radiation dose can be attained from MRI by using suitable image processing algorithms. As there are many works that have been proposed for automatic detection for cancers, the effort is also put in to provide an effective survey of Computer Aided Diagnosis (CAD) system for different types of cancer detection with increased efficiency based on recent research works. Even though there are many surveys on MRI contrast agents, they only focused on a particular type of cancer. This study deeply presents the use of nanocontrast agents in MRI for different types of cancer diagnosis.

CONCLUSION

The main aim of this paper is to critically review the available compounds used as nanocontrast agents in MRI modality for different types of cancers. It also includes the review of different methods for cancer cell detection and classification. A comparative analysis is performed to analyze the effect of different CAD systems.

Study the Anti-MUC1 antibody-based iron oxide nanoparticles on three-dimension spheroid and breast cancer (MCF-7) cell imaging

Non-invasive methods for breast cancer detection in early stages may help to increase the survival rate of patients. This study aimed to evaluate the application of Anti-MUC1 antibody-based iron oxide nanoparticle (SPIONs-C595) which was assessed in vivo as a molecular imaging probe for breast cancer (MCF-7) detection using MRI. Nine groups of female NRC NU/Nu mice (each group of 3), 6 to 8 weeks old were used and MCF-7 cells were injected subcutaneously into both flanks of nude mice. After two weeks the mice received an intravenous injection of different concentrations of SPIONs-C595. The uptake ability of SPIONs-C595 on three-dimension (3D) macrostructure is exploited a modified hanging drop method using Prussian blue for MCF-7 cells. The iron content was measured in liver, kidney, spleen, and tumor. The MR imaging features and biodistribution of nanoprobe was also investigated. The MR images obtained from digested tumor after nanoprobe administration in different time-period revealed that enhancement of T1 and T2 relaxation time. Moreover, the storage stability test was shown great application and no sedimentation of nanoparticles within two months storage at 4°C. Additionally, great validation of SPIONs-C595 on the 3D spheroid of MCF-7 was observed. The biodistribution analysis showed that iron content of the spleen was more than the other studied organs. These results highlighted the feasibility of an in-vivo model for detection of breast cancer MUC1 expression. Current researches are ongoing to further enhancement of relaxation times for classification of MUC1 status using clinical specimens.

A literature review on multimodality molecular imaging nanoprobes for cancer detection

Molecular imaging techniques using nanoparticles have significant potential to be widely used for the detection of various types of cancers. Nowadays, there has been an increased focus on developing novel nanoprobes as molecular imaging contrast enhancement agents in nanobiomedicine. The purpose of this review article is to summarize the use of a variety of nanoprobes and their current achievements in accurate cancer imaging and effective treatment. Nanoprobes are rapidly becoming potential tools for cancer diagnosis by using novel molecular imaging modalities such as Ultrasound (US) imaging, Computerized Tomography (CT), Single Photon Emission Tomography (SPECT) and Positron Emission Tomography (PET), Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI), and Optical Imaging. These imaging modalities may facilitate earlier and more accurate diagnosis and staging the most of cancers.

Synthesis and characterisation of iron oxide nanoparticles conjugated with epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) monoclonal antibody as MRI contrast agent for cancer detection

The aim of this study is to synthesise superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles conjugated with anti-epidermal growth factor receptor monoclonal antibody (ANTI-EGFR-SPION) and investigate its physicochemical characterisation and biocompatibility as a targeted magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) contrast agent for the EGFR-specific detection in EGFR expressing tumour cells. These particles employed biocompatible polymers, poly(D,L-lactide-co-glycolide) (PLGA) and polyethylene glycol aldehyde (PEG-aldehyde), to increase the half-life of particles in circulation and reduce their side effects. The Fe₃O₄-loaded PLGA-PEG-aldehyde nanoparticles were prepared by a modified water-in-oil-in-water double emulsion method. The EGFR antibody was conjugated to the surface of SPIONs using the aldehyde-amine reaction. Synthesised conjugates (nanoprobes) were characterised using Fourier transform infrared spectrophotometry, dynamic light scattering, transmission electron microscopy images, and vibrating-sample magnetometery, and the results showed that the conjugation was successful. The mean diameter of nanoprobes was about 25 nm. These nanoprobes exhibited excellent water-solubility, stability, and biocompatibility. Meanwhile, MR susceptibility test proved that synthesised nanoprobes can be managed for negative contrast enhancement. The results of this study suggested the potential use of these nanoprobes for non-invasive molecular MRI in EGFR detection in the future.