Poly(lactic-co-glycolic) acid as a carrier for imaging contrast agents.
OBJECTIVE
With the broadening field of nanomedicine poised for future molecular level therapeutics, nano- and microparticles intended for the augmentation of either single- or multimodal imaging are created with PLGA as the chief constituent and carrier.


METHODS
Emulsion techniques were used to encapsulate hydrophilic and hydrophobic imaging contrast agents in PLGA particles. The imaging contrast properties of these PLGA particles were further enhanced by reducing silver onto the PLGA surface, creating a silver cage around the polymeric core.


RESULTS
The MRI contrast agent Gd-DTPA and the exogenous dye rhodamine 6G were both encapsulated in PLGA and shown to enhance MR and fluorescence contrast, respectively. The silver nanocage built around PLGA nanoparticles exhibited strong near infrared light absorbance properties, making it a suitable contrast agent for optical imaging strategies such as photoacoustic imaging.


CONCLUSIONS
The biodegradable polymer PLGA is an extremely versatile nano- and micro-carrier for several imaging contrast agents with the possibility of targeting diseased states at a molecular level.
Doiron
Amber L
AL
Department of Biomedical Engineering, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, USA.
Homan
Kimberly A
KA
Emelianov
Stanislav
S
Brannon-Peppas
Lisa
L
D003287:Contrast Media / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000737:chemistry; D004337:Drug Carriers / Q000737:chemistry*; D004655:Emulsions; D019344:Lactic Acid / Q000737:chemistry*; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; D008856:Microscopy, Fluorescence; D050997:Nanomedicine; D053758:Nanoparticles / Q000737:chemistry*; D011100:Polyglycolic Acid / Q000737:chemistry*; D000077182:Polylactic Acid-Polyglycolic Acid Copolymer; D013499:Surface Properties
D003287:Contrast Media; D004337:Drug Carriers; D004655:Emulsions; D000077182:Polylactic Acid-Polyglycolic Acid Copolymer; D011100:Polyglycolic Acid; D019344:Lactic Acid