Near-infrared fluorescent imaging of metastatic ovarian cancer using folate receptor-targeted high-density lipoprotein nanocarriers.
OBJECTIVE
The targeting efficiency of folate receptor-α (FR-α)-targeted high-density lipoprotein nanoparticles (HDL NPs) was evaluated in a syngeneic mouse model of ovarian cancer.


METHODS
Folic acid was conjugated to the surface of fluorescent-labeled HDL NPs. In vivo tumor targeting of folic acid-HDL NPs and HDL NPs were evaluated in mice with metastatic ovarian cancer following intravenous or intraperitoneal (ip.) administration.


CONCLUSIONS
Intravenous FR-α-targeted HDL resulted in high uptake of the fluorescent nanoparticle in host liver and spleen. The ip. injection of fluorescent HDL produced moderate fluorescence throughout the abdomen. Conversely, animals receiving the ip. FR-α-targeted HDL showed a high fluorescence signal in ovarian tumors, surpassing that seen in all of the host tissues.


CONCLUSIONS
The authors' findings demonstrate that the combination of local-regional ip. administration and FR-α-directed nanoparticles provides an enhanced approach to selectively targeting ovarian cancer cells for drug treatment.
Advanced Imaging Research Center, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas, Dallas, TX 75390, USA. ian.corbin@utsouthwestern.edu
Ian R
IR
Corbin
Kenneth K
KK
Ng
Lili
L
Ding
Andrea
A
Jurisicova
Gang
G
Zheng
D000818:Animals; D000077216:Carcinoma, Ovarian Epithelial; D016503:Drug Delivery Systems; D005260:Female; D058975:Folate Receptor 1 / Q000378:metabolism*; D005492:Folic Acid / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism*; D008075:Lipoproteins, HDL / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism*; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D053758:Nanoparticles / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism*; D009375:Neoplasms, Glandular and Epithelial / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D010051:Ovarian Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D010053:Ovary / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology
D058975:Folate Receptor 1; D008075:Lipoproteins, HDL; D005492:Folic Acid