Magnetic resonance imaging for predicting personalized antitumor nanomedicine efficacy

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is widely used to diagnose cancer and study patterns and effectiveness of nanocarrier delivery of anticancer drugs. Accumulation of nanoparticles in a tumor varies widely in a given population; it is also highly dependent on biological factors, which remain largely unstudied. In recent years, there was developed a hypothesis that suggests that MRI can be used to predict response to nanoformulations-based anticancer therapy since it provides data on accumulation of MRI contrast agents in the tumor. Pilot tests prove feasibility of the approach based on this hypothesis, however, there is a number of conceptual and technical problems and limitations that hamper its introduction into the routine clinical practice. This article discusses the advantages and disadvantages of methods to stratify tumors by level of nanoparticles accumulation. Further research in this field would facilitate development of effective algorithms of personalized treatment with anticancer drugs delivered by nanoparticles.

Lipidoid iron oxide nanoparticles are a platform for nucleic acid delivery to the liver

Targeted delivery of antisense drugs is a promising technology which can provide a platform for the development of highly effective therapeuticals against a broad range of diseases. Insufficient stability of RNA in biological media coupled with hydrophilicity that prevents the molecule from penetrating cell membranes considerably limit RNA application in clinical practice. The aim of this work was to design a system for antisense drug delivery to liver hepatocytes using lipidoid magnetic nanoparticles (LNP). Nanocubes (NC) with average sizes of 16 and 27 nm were synthesized through decomposition of iron (III) oleate under high temperature conditions and functionalized with a cationic lipidoid С12-200. Magnetic NC demonstrated good MR-contrasting properties. Biodistribution of LNP was studied in vivo in BALB/c mice using the MR scanner. Additionally, liver sections obtained from the mice were subjected to histological examination. Nanoparticles of smaller size did not have a cytotoxic effect on HepG2 and Huh7 cell lines, whereas for larger NC, IC50 was 21.5 μg/ml and 126 μg/ml for HepG2 and Huh7 cells, respectively. Smaller particles tended to accumulate in hepatocytes. Bigger NC mainly accumulated in the spleen but also ended up in liver macrophages. This fact can be explained by a bigger hydrodynamic size of nanoparticles with a bigger magnetic core. Particles with smaller cores are a more effective platform for the delivery of antisense drugs to hepatocytes.

Detecting reactive oxygen species in biological fluids by platinum nanoelectrode applying amperometric method

Reactive oxygen species (ROS) are vital metabolites in numerous biological functions. Disorders of cellular mechanisms can cause overproduction of ROS and, subsequently, oxidative damage to DNA, proteins, cells and tissues, which is associated with the pathogenesis of a number of neurodegenerative and inflammatory diseases. Development of highly sensitive, relatively simple and fast-to-implement innovative methods to detect oxidative stress requires understanding of how such disorders relate to the level of ROS. This research aimed to apply the biological fluids' ROS detection method we have developed (using the stable platinum nanoelectrode that allows assessing the level of hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) down to 1 μM) and determine the level of H2O2 in lacrimal and intraocular fluids of rabbits, as well as to investigate how the level of H2O2 changes under the influence of antioxidant therapy. The effect superoxide dismutase (SOD) nanoparticles produce on biological fluids' ROS level was shown. The level of H2O2 in lacrimal fluid increased 10 and 30 min after instillation of SOD nanoparticles. As for the intraocular fluid, H2O2 concentration starts to grow only 30 min after instillation of SOD nanoparticles, which suggests that the they penetrate the internal structures of the eye gradually. The method seems to be of value in the context of eye diseases diagnosing and treatment.