title: Bimodal perfluorocarbon nanoemulsions for nasopharyngeal carcinoma targeting.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to perform the detection of folate receptor (FR)-positive tumors with a bimodal imaging contrast agent, a perfluorocarbon (PFC)/rhodamine nanoemulsion, providing both 19F-based magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and fluorescence imaging capabilities.
  
  
  METHODS
  The PFC/rhodamine nanoemulsion was further infused with phospholipid-anchored folate to improve the ability to target FR-expressing tumors. The preferential accumulation of the FR-targeted bimodal nanoemulsion in FR-positive tumor sites was monitored by both 19F-MRI and optical imaging.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The FR-targeted PFC nanoemulsion had no significant effect on cell viability, and the size and fluorescence signal of PFC nanoemulsion were very stable. These nanoprobes were successfully delivered into FR-positive tumor xenograft models and showed significantly enhanced signal intensities of 19F-MRI and fluorescence imaging in the tumor area.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The folate-PFC/rhodamine nanoemulsion has a great potential to serve as a useful optical and 19F-MRI agent for the diagnosis and targeting of FR-positive tumor.
authors.affiliation: Bionanotechnology Research Center, Korea Research Institute of Bioscience and Biotechnology, Daejeon, 305-806, South Korea.
authors.forename: Pan Kee
authors.initials: PK
authors.lastname: Bae
authors.forename: Juyeon
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Jung
authors.forename: Su Jin
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Lim
authors.forename: Daehong
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Seok-Ki
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Bong Hyun
authors.initials: BH
authors.lastname: Chung
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002277:Carcinoma; D016923:Cell Death; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D004655:Emulsions / Q000737:chemistry; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D005466:Fluorocarbons / Q000737:chemistry; D058973:Folate Receptors, GPI-Anchored / Q000378:metabolism; D005492:Folic Acid / Q000737:chemistry; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D051379:Mice; D008856:Microscopy, Fluorescence; D053758:Nanoparticles / Q000737:chemistry; D000077274:Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma; D009303:Nasopharyngeal Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology; D055620:Optical Phenomena; D012235:Rhodamines / Q000737:chemistry
chemical_list: D004655:Emulsions; D005466:Fluorocarbons; D058973:Folate Receptors, GPI-Anchored; D012235:Rhodamines; D005492:Folic Acid