title: Mesoporous silica nanoparticles as a breast-cancer targeting ultrasound contrast agent.
abstract: Ultrasound (US) is used widely in the context of breast cancer. While it is advantageous for a number of reasons, it has low specificity and requires the use of a contrast agent. Its use as a standalone diagnostic and real-time imaging modality could be achieved by development of a tumor-targeted ultrasound contrast agent (UCA); functionalizing the UCA with a tumor-targeting agent would also allow the targeted administration of anti-cancer drugs at the tumor site. In this article, clinical US techniques are used to show that mesoporous silica nanoparticles (MSNs), functionalized with the monoclonal antibody Herceptin(®), can be used as an effective UCA by increasing US image contrast. Furthermore, in vitro assays show the successful localization and binding of the MSN-Herceptin conjugate to HER2+ cancer cells, resulting in tumor-specific cytotoxicity. These results demonstrate the potential of MSNs as a stable, biocompatible, and effective therapeutic and diagnostic ("theranostic") agent for US-based breast cancer imaging, diagnosis, and treatment.
authors.affiliation: University of Colorado Denver Anschutz Medical Campus, Department of Bioengineering, Mail Stop 8607, 12700 East 19th Avenue, Aurora, CO 80045, United States.
authors.forename: Andrew
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Milgroom
authors.affiliation: University of Colorado Denver Anschutz Medical Campus, Department of Bioengineering, Mail Stop 8607, 12700 East 19th Avenue, Aurora, CO 80045, United States.
authors.forename: Miranda
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Intrator
authors.affiliation: University of Colorado Denver Anschutz Medical Campus, Department of Bioengineering, Mail Stop 8607, 12700 East 19th Avenue, Aurora, CO 80045, United States.
authors.forename: Krishna
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Madhavan
authors.affiliation: University of Colorado Denver Anschutz Medical Campus, Department of Bioengineering, Mail Stop 8607, 12700 East 19th Avenue, Aurora, CO 80045, United States.
authors.forename: Luciano
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Mazzaro
authors.affiliation: University of Colorado Denver Anschutz Medical Campus, Department of Bioengineering, Mail Stop 8607, 12700 East 19th Avenue, Aurora, CO 80045, United States.
authors.forename: Robin
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Shandas
authors.affiliation: University of Colorado Denver Anschutz Medical Campus, Department of Pathology, Mail Stop 8104, 12801 East 17th Avenue, Aurora, United States.
authors.forename: Bolin
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.affiliation: University of Colorado Denver Anschutz Medical Campus, Department of Bioengineering, Mail Stop 8607, 12700 East 19th Avenue, Aurora, CO 80045, United States. Electronic address: daewon.park@ucdenver.edu.
authors.forename: Daewon
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Park
mesh_terms: D061067:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized / Q000494:pharmacology; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000188:drug therapy; D049109:Cell Proliferation / Q000187:drug effects; D003287:Contrast Media / Q000494:pharmacology; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004354:Drug Screening Assays, Antitumor; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D053758:Nanoparticles / Q000737:chemistry*; D010316:Particle Size; D016062:Porosity; D012822:Silicon Dioxide / Q000737:chemistry*; D013329:Structure-Activity Relationship; D013499:Surface Properties; D000068878:Trastuzumab; D014407:Tumor Cells, Cultured; D014463:Ultrasonography
chemical_list: D061067:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D003287:Contrast Media; D012822:Silicon Dioxide; D000068878:Trastuzumab
keywords: Breast cancer; Contrast agent; Drug delivery; Herceptin; Mesoporous silica nanoparticles; Ultrasound