title: Sonosensitive theranostic liposomes for preclinical in vivo MRI-guided visualization of doxorubicin release stimulated by pulsed low intensity non-focused ultrasound.
abstract: The main goal of this study was to assess the theranostic performance of a nanomedicine able to generate MRI contrast as a response to the release from liposomes of the antitumor drug Doxorubicin triggered by the local exposure to pulsed low intensity non focused ultrasounds (pLINFU). In vitro experiments showed that Gadoteridol was an excellent imaging agent for probing the release of Doxorubicin following pLINFU stimulation. On this basis, the theranostic system was investigated in vivo on a syngeneic murine model of TS/A breast cancer. MRI offered an excellent guidance for monitoring the pLINFU-stimulated release of the drug. Moreover, it provided: i) an in vivo proof of the effective release of the liposomal content, and ii) a confirmation of the therapeutic benefits of the overall protocol. Ex vivo fluorescence microscopy indicated that the good therapeutic outcome was originated from a better diffusion of the drug in the tumor following the pLINFU stimulus. Very interestingly, the broad diffusion of the drug in the tumor stroma appeared to be mediated by the presence of the liposomes themselves. The results of this study highlighted either the great potential of US-based stimuli to safely trigger the release of a drug from its nanocarrier or the associated significant therapeutic improvement. Finally, MRI demonstrated to be a valuable technique to support chemotherapy and monitoring the outcome. Furthermore, in this specific case, the theranostic agent developed has a high clinical translatability because the MRI agent utilized is already approved for human use.
authors.affiliation: Center for Molecular Imaging, Department of Molecular Biotechnology and Health Sciences, University of Torino, Via Nizza 52, 10126 Torino, Italy.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Rizzitelli
authors.affiliation: Center for Molecular Imaging, Department of Molecular Biotechnology and Health Sciences, University of Torino, Via Nizza 52, 10126 Torino, Italy; Center for Preclinical Imaging, Department of Molecular Biotechnology and Health Sciences, University of Torino, Via Ribes 5, 10010 Colleretto Giacosa (TO), Italy.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Giustetto
authors.affiliation: Center for Molecular Imaging, Department of Molecular Biotechnology and Health Sciences, University of Torino, Via Nizza 52, 10126 Torino, Italy.
authors.forename: J C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Cutrin
authors.affiliation: Center for Molecular Imaging, Department of Molecular Biotechnology and Health Sciences, University of Torino, Via Nizza 52, 10126 Torino, Italy.
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Delli Castelli
authors.affiliation: Center for Molecular Imaging, Department of Molecular Biotechnology and Health Sciences, University of Torino, Via Nizza 52, 10126 Torino, Italy.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Boffa
authors.affiliation: Center for Molecular Imaging, Department of Molecular Biotechnology and Health Sciences, University of Torino, Via Nizza 52, 10126 Torino, Italy.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ruzza
authors.affiliation: Institute for Biostructures and Bioimages (CNR) c/o Molecular Biotechnology Center, University of Torino, Italy.
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Menchise
authors.affiliation: Biolab, Department of Electronics and Telecommunications, Politecnico di Torino, Torino, Italy.
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Molinari
authors.affiliation: Center for Molecular Imaging, Department of Molecular Biotechnology and Health Sciences, University of Torino, Via Nizza 52, 10126 Torino, Italy; Center for Preclinical Imaging, Department of Molecular Biotechnology and Health Sciences, University of Torino, Via Ribes 5, 10010 Colleretto Giacosa (TO), Italy.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Aime
authors.affiliation: Center for Molecular Imaging, Department of Molecular Biotechnology and Health Sciences, University of Torino, Via Nizza 52, 10126 Torino, Italy; Center for Preclinical Imaging, Department of Molecular Biotechnology and Health Sciences, University of Torino, Via Ribes 5, 10010 Colleretto Giacosa (TO), Italy. Electronic address: enzo.terreno@unito.it.
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Terreno
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000903:Antibiotics, Antineoplastic / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000737:chemistry / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000627:therapeutic use; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D003287:Contrast Media / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000493:pharmacokinetics; D004317:Doxorubicin / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000737:chemistry / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005260:Female; D005682:Gadolinium / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000493:pharmacokinetics; D006571:Heterocyclic Compounds / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000493:pharmacokinetics; D008081:Liposomes; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008325:Mammary Neoplasms, Experimental / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D009942:Organometallic Compounds / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000493:pharmacokinetics; D047368:Tumor Burden / Q000187:drug effects; D014463:Ultrasonography
chemical_list: D000903:Antibiotics, Antineoplastic; D003287:Contrast Media; D006571:Heterocyclic Compounds; D008081:Liposomes; D009942:Organometallic Compounds; C062402:gadoteridol; D004317:Doxorubicin; D005682:Gadolinium