title: Engineering discoidal polymeric nanoconstructs with enhanced magneto-optical properties for tumor imaging.
abstract: The in vivo performance of nanoparticles is affected by their size, shape and surface properties. Fabrication methods based on emulsification and nano-precipitation cannot control these features precisely and independently over multiple scales. Herein, discoidal polymeric nanoconstructs (DPNs) with a diameter of 1000 nm and a height of 500 nm are demonstrated via a modified hydrogel-template strategy. The DPNs are obtained by mixing in one synthesis step the constituent polymers - poly(lactic acid-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA) and polyethylene glycol (PEG) dimethacrylate - and the payload with magneto-optical properties - 5 nm ultra-small super-paramagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles (SPIOs) and Rhodamine B dye (RhB). The DPN geometrical features are characterized by multiple microscopy techniques. The release of the Rhodamine B dye is pH dependent and increases under acidic conditions by the enhanced hydrolysis of the polymeric matrix. Each DPN is loaded with ~100 fg of iron and can be efficiently dragged by static and external magnetic fields. Moreover, the USPIO confinement within the DPN porous structure is responsible for a significant enhancement in MRI relaxivity (r2 ~ 500 (mMs)(-1)), up to ~5 times larger than commercially available systems. These nanoconstructs suggest a general strategy to engineer theranostic systems for anti-angiogenic treatment and vascular imaging.
authors.affiliation: Department of Translational Imaging, The Methodist Hospital Research Institute, Houston, TX 77030, USA.
authors.forename: Jaehong
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Key
authors.forename: Santosh
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Aryal
authors.forename: Francesco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Gentile
authors.forename: Jeyarama S
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Ananta
authors.forename: Meng
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Zhong
authors.forename: Melissa D
authors.initials: MD
authors.lastname: Landis
authors.forename: Paolo
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Decuzzi
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D016923:Cell Death / Q000187:drug effects; D003952:Diagnostic Imaging / Q000379:methods*; D006367:HeLa Cells; D006801:Humans; D019344:Lactic Acid / Q000737:chemistry*; D060328:Magnetic Phenomena; D008689:Methacrylates / Q000737:chemistry*; D051379:Mice; D016513:Mice, SCID; D008856:Microscopy, Fluorescence; D053758:Nanoparticles / Q000633:toxicity / Q000648:ultrastructure; D036103:Nanotechnology / Q000379:methods*; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis*; D055620:Optical Phenomena; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols / Q000737:chemistry*; D011100:Polyglycolic Acid / Q000737:chemistry*; D000077182:Polylactic Acid-Polyglycolic Acid Copolymer; D012235:Rhodamines / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D008689:Methacrylates; D012235:Rhodamines; C421283:poly(ethylene glycol)-dimethacrylate; D000077182:Polylactic Acid-Polyglycolic Acid Copolymer; D011100:Polyglycolic Acid; D019344:Lactic Acid; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols; C029773:rhodamine B