title: Evaluation of radiogallium-labeled, folate-embedded superparamagnetic nanoparticles in fibrosarcoma-bearing mice.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Elevated expression of the folate receptor (FR) occurs in many human malignancies. Thus, folate targeting is widely utilized in drug delivery purposes specially using nano-radioactive agents.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  In this work, we report production and biological evaluation of gallium-67 labeled superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles, embedded by folic acid ( 67 Ga-SPION-folate) complex especially in tumor-bearing mice for tumor imaging studies.
  
  
  METHODS
  The structure of SPION-folate was confirmed by X-ray diffraction (XRD), transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and foureir transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR) analyses. The radiolabeled SPION-folate formation was confirmed by instant thin layer chromatography (ITLC). Tumor induction was performed by the use of poly-aromatic hydrocarbon injection in rodents as reported previously.
  
  
  METHODS
  [ 67 Ga]-SPION-folate was shown to possess a particle size of ≈ 5-10 nm using instrumental methods followed by ITLC test. Biocompatibility of the compound was investigated using an 3-(4,5-Dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay followed by stability tests and tumor accumulation studies in fibrosarcoma-bearing mice after subcutaneous (s.c.) application.
  
  
  METHODS
  All values were expressed as mean ± standard deviation (mean ± SD) and the data were compared using Student t-test. Statistical significance was defined as P<0.05.
  
  
  RESULTS
  [ 67 Ga]-SPION-folate was prepared by a modified co-precipitation method possessing a particle size of ≈ 5-10 nm using instrumental methods (>95% radiochemical purity). Biodistribution studies demonstrated tumor:blood, tumor:bone and tumor:muscle ratios of 4.23, 4.98 and 11.54 respectively after 24 h.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Due to the nano-scale size and high-penetrative property of the developed folate-containing nano-complex, this system can be an interesting drug delivery modality with therapeutic applications and folate receptor-targeting behavior, while possessing paramagnetic properties for thermotherapy.
authors: Department of Engineering and Technical, Science and Research Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, 14778-93855, Iran.
authors: Seyyedeh Leila
authors: SL
authors: Hosseini-Salekdeh
authors: Amir Reza
authors: AR
authors: Jalilian
authors: Hassan
authors: H
authors: Yousefnia
authors: Kammaledin
authors: K
authors: Shafaii
authors: Majid
authors: M
authors: Pouladian
authors: Morteza
authors: M
authors: Mahmoudi
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002460:Cell Line; D002470:Cell Survival; D005354:Fibrosarcoma / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D005492:Folic Acid / Q000138:chemical synthesis / Q000493:pharmacokinetics; D005710:Gallium Radioisotopes; D058185:Magnetite Nanoparticles / Q000737:chemistry; D008748:Methylcholanthrene; D051379:Mice; D053758:Nanoparticles / Q000648:ultrastructure; D010316:Particle Size; D011877:Radionuclide Imaging; D019275:Radiopharmaceuticals / Q000138:chemical synthesis / Q000493:pharmacokinetics; D017550:Spectroscopy, Fourier Transform Infrared; D014018:Tissue Distribution; D014961:X-Ray Diffraction
chemical_list: D005710:Gallium Radioisotopes; D058185:Magnetite Nanoparticles; D019275:Radiopharmaceuticals; D008748:Methylcholanthrene; D005492:Folic Acid