title: Self-assembled polymeric nanoparticles as new, smart contrast agents for cancer early detection using magnetic resonance imaging.
abstract: Early cancer detection is a major factor in the reduction of mortality and cancer management cost. Here we developed a smart and targeted micelle-based contrast agent for magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), able to turn on its imaging capability in the presence of acidic cancer tissues. This smart contrast agent consists of pH-sensitive polymeric micelles formed by self-assembly of a diblock copolymer (poly(ethyleneglycol-b-trimethylsilyl methacrylate)), loaded with a gadolinium hydrophobic complex ((t)BuBipyGd) and exploits the acidic pH in cancer tissues. In vitro MRI experiments showed that (t)BuBipyGd-loaded micelles were pH-sensitive, as they turned on their imaging capability only in an acidic microenvironment. The micelle-targeting ability toward cancer cells was enhanced by conjugation with an antibody against the MUC1 protein. The ability of our antibody-decorated micelles to be switched on in acidic microenvironments and to target cancer cells expressing specific antigens, together with its high Gd(III) content and its small size (35-40 nm) reveals their potential use for early cancer detection by MRI.
authors.affiliation: Chemistry Department, Faculty of Science, Kuwait University, Safat, Kuwait.
authors.forename: Fouzi
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Mouffouk
authors.affiliation: IBB - Institute for Biotechnology and Bioengineering, CBME - Centre for Molecular and Structural Biomedicine, Faro, Portugal.
authors.forename: Teresa
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Simão
authors.affiliation: IBB - Institute for Biotechnology and Bioengineering, CBME - Centre for Molecular and Structural Biomedicine, Faro, Portugal.
authors.forename: Daniel F
authors.initials: DF
authors.lastname: Dornelles
authors.affiliation: CIQA-Algarve Chemistry Research Center, Department of Chemistry and Pharmacy, Faculty of Sciences and Technology, University of Algarve, Campus de Gambelas, Faro, Portugal.
authors.forename: André D
authors.initials: AD
authors.lastname: Lopes
authors.affiliation: Centro Radiológico Computarizado SA (CERCO), Seville, Spain.
authors.forename: Pablo
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Sau
authors.affiliation: IBB - Institute for Biotechnology and Bioengineering, CBME - Centre for Molecular and Structural Biomedicine, Faro, Portugal ; Department of Biological Sciences and Bioengineering, Faculty of Sciences and Technology, University of Algarve, Campus de Gambelas, Faro, Portugal.
authors.forename: Jorge
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Martins
authors.affiliation: King Abdullah Institute for Nanotechnology, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
authors.forename: Khalid M
authors.initials: KM
authors.lastname: Abu-Salah
authors.affiliation: King Abdullah Institute for Nanotechnology, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
authors.forename: Salman A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Alrokayan
authors.affiliation: CIQA-Algarve Chemistry Research Center, Department of Chemistry and Pharmacy, Faculty of Sciences and Technology, University of Algarve, Campus de Gambelas, Faro, Portugal.
authors.forename: Ana M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Rosa da Costa
authors.affiliation: IBB - Institute for Biotechnology and Bioengineering, CBME - Centre for Molecular and Structural Biomedicine, Faro, Portugal.
authors.forename: Nuno R
authors.initials: NR
authors.lastname: dos Santos
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D003287:Contrast Media / Q000737:chemistry*; D055088:Early Detection of Cancer / Q000379:methods*; D005682:Gadolinium / Q000737:chemistry; D057809:HEK293 Cells; D006801:Humans; D057927:Hydrophobic and Hydrophilic Interactions; D061986:MCF-7 Cells; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D059630:Mesenchymal Stem Cells; D008689:Methacrylates / Q000737:chemistry; D051379:Mice; D008823:Micelles; D053758:Nanoparticles / Q000737:chemistry*; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis*; D011108:Polymers / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D003287:Contrast Media; D008689:Methacrylates; D008823:Micelles; D011108:Polymers; C005044:hydroxyethyl methacrylate; D005682:Gadolinium
keywords: cancer detection; micelle; pH-sensitive; self-assembly; smart contrast agent