title: Biodistribution of nanostructured lipid carriers: a tomographic study.
abstract: This study describes the preparation, characterization, and biodistribution of radiolabelled nanostructured lipid carriers (NLCs) especially designed for in vivo tomographic study. A preliminary formulative study was conducted in order to incorporate (99m)Tc based tracer in NLCs. At this aim a (99m)Tc complex containing a terminal (99m)Tc ≡ N multiple bond ([(99m)Tc]N-DBODC2) has been synthesized and included in NLCs produced by a stirring and ultrasonication method. The morphological and dimensional characteristics of the produced NLCs have been accurately investigated by a number of specific techniques, including: cryogenic transmission electron microscopy, X-ray, photon correlation spectroscopy and sedimentation field flow fractionation. The obtained NLCs were employed for achieving in vivo tomographic images of the rat body by small-animal SPECT scanner that enabled the investigation of NLC biodistribution after intraperitoneal, intravenous, intranasal and oral administration. NLC production protocol allowed to firmly encapsulate the radiotracer within the nanoparticles. In vivo studies evidenced that NLC remained stable in vivo, suggesting their suitability as controlled release system for drugs and radiochemical for therapeutic and diagnostic purposes. Moreover the high resolution images obtained by the SPECT technique allowed to detect NLC presence in brown fat tissue, suggesting NLC therapeutic application for treating human obesity and related metabolic disorders.
authors.affiliation: Department of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, University of Ferrara, Ferrara, Italy.
authors.forename: Elisabetta
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Esposito
authors.affiliation: Department of Morphology, Surgery and Experimental Medicine, University of Ferrara, Ferrara, Italy.
authors.forename: Alessandra
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Boschi
authors.affiliation: Department of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, University of Ferrara, Ferrara, Italy.
authors.forename: Laura
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Ravani
authors.affiliation: Department of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, University of Ferrara, Ferrara, Italy.
authors.forename: Rita
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Cortesi
authors.affiliation: BIMF/Soft Matter Electronmicroscopy, University of Bayreuth, Germany.
authors.forename: Markus
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Drechsler
authors.affiliation: Department of Life and Environmental Sciences and CNISM, Università Politecnica delle Marche, Ancona, Italy.
authors.forename: Paolo
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Mariani
authors.affiliation: Department of Life and Environmental Sciences and CNISM, Università Politecnica delle Marche, Ancona, Italy.
authors.forename: Silvia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Moscatelli
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, University of Ferrara, Ferrara, Italy.
authors.forename: Catia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Contado
authors.affiliation: Department of Physic and Earth Science, University of Ferrara, Ferrara, Italy.
authors.forename: Giovanni
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Di Domenico
authors.affiliation: Department of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, University of Ferrara, Ferrara, Italy. Electronic address: nas@unife.it.
authors.forename: Claudio
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Nastruzzi
authors.affiliation: Department of Morphology, Surgery and Experimental Medicine, University of Ferrara, Ferrara, Italy.
authors.forename: Melchiore
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Giganti
authors.affiliation: Department of Morphology, Surgery and Experimental Medicine, University of Ferrara, Ferrara, Italy.
authors.forename: Licia
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Uccelli
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D004337:Drug Carriers / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000493:pharmacokinetics*; D005260:Female; D008055:Lipids / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000493:pharmacokinetics*; D008297:Male; D046529:Microscopy, Electron, Transmission / Q000379:methods; D049329:Nanostructures / Q000737:chemistry*; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D014018:Tissue Distribution; D014054:Tomography / Q000379:methods; D015899:Tomography, Emission-Computed, Single-Photon / Q000379:methods
chemical_list: D004337:Drug Carriers; D008055:Lipids
keywords: (99m)Tc imaging agents; Biodistribution; Cryotransmission electron microscopy (cryo-TEM); Nanostructured lipid carriers; Photon correlation spectroscopy (PCS); Single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT)