title: Nanotherapeutics in angiogenesis: synthesis and in vivo assessment of drug efficacy and biocompatibility in zebrafish embryos.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Carbon nanotubes have shown broad potential in biomedical applications, given their unique mechanical, optical, and chemical properties. In this pilot study, carbon nanotubes have been explored as multimodal drug delivery vectors that facilitate antiangiogenic therapy in zebrafish embryos.
  
  
  METHODS
  Three different agents, ie, an antiangiogenic binding site (cyclic arginine-glycin-easpartic acid), an antiangiogenic drug (thalidomide), and a tracking dye (rhodamine), were conjugated onto single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNT). The biodistribution, efficacy, and biocompatibility of these triple functionalized SWCNT were tested in mammalian cells and validated in transparent zebrafish embryos.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Accumulation of SWCNT-associated nanoconjugates in blastoderm cells facilitated drug delivery applications. Mammalian cell xenograft assays demonstrated that these antiangiogenic SWCNT nanoconjugates specifically inhibited ectopic angiogenesis in the engrafted zebrafish embryos.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study highlights the potential of using SWCNT for generating efficient nanotherapeutics.
authors: Department of Biology and Chemistry, The City University of Hong Kong, Kowloon.
authors: Jinping
authors: J
authors: Cheng
authors: Yan-Juan
authors: YJ
authors: Gu
authors: Yajun
authors: Y
authors: Wang
authors: Shuk Han
authors: SH
authors: Cheng
authors: Wing-Tak
authors: WT
authors: Wong
mesh_terms: D020533:Angiogenesis Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology; D000818:Animals; D001756:Blastoderm / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects; D001808:Blood Vessels / Q000187:drug effects*; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D004625:Embryo, Nonmammalian / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects*; D006801:Humans; D058726:Nanoconjugates / Q000737:chemistry / Q000627:therapeutic use; D037742:Nanotubes, Carbon / Q000032:analysis / Q000737:chemistry; D009389:Neovascularization, Pathologic / Q000188:drug therapy*; D010456:Peptides, Cyclic / Q000494:pharmacology*; D012235:Rhodamines / Q000032:analysis / Q000737:chemistry; D013792:Thalidomide / Q000494:pharmacology*; D014018:Tissue Distribution; D015027:Zebrafish
chemical_list: D020533:Angiogenesis Inhibitors; D058726:Nanoconjugates; D037742:Nanotubes, Carbon; D010456:Peptides, Cyclic; D012235:Rhodamines; C507169:cyclic arginine-glycine-aspartic acid peptide; D013792:Thalidomide