title: Functional assays for specific targeting and delivery of RNA nanoparticles to brain tumor.
abstract: Cumulative progress in nanoparticle development has opened a new era of targeted delivery of therapeutics to cancer cells and tissue. However, developing proper detection methods has lagged behind resulting in the lack of precise evaluation and monitoring of the systemically administered nanoparticles. RNA nanoparticles derived from the bacteriophage phi29 DNA packaging motor pRNA have emerged as a new generation of drugs for cancer therapy. Multifunctional RNA nanoparticles can be fabricated by bottom-up self-assembly of engineered RNA fragments harboring targeting (RNA aptamer or chemical ligand), therapeutic (siRNA, miRNA, ribozymes, and small molecule drugs), and imaging (fluorophore, radiolabels) modules. We have recently demonstrated that RNA nanoparticles can reach and target intracranial brain tumors in mice upon systemic injection with little or no accumulation in adjacent healthy brain tissues or in major healthy internal organs. Herein, we describe various functional imaging methods (fluorescence confocal microscopy, flow cytometry, fluorescence whole body imaging, and magnetic resonance imaging) to evaluate and monitor RNA nanoparticle targeting to intracranial brain tumors in mice. Such imaging techniques will allow in-depth evaluation of specifically delivered RNA therapeutics to brain tumors.
authors.affiliation: Department of MolecularVirology, Immunologyand Medical Genetics, Comprehensive Cancer Center, The Ohio State University, 1080 Biomedical Research Tower, 460 W. 12th Ave., Columbus, OH, 43210, USA.
authors.forename: Tae Jin
authors.initials: TJ
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Farzin
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Haque
authors.forename: Mario
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Vieweger
authors.forename: Ji Young
authors.initials: JY
authors.lastname: Yoo
authors.forename: Balveen
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Kaur
authors.forename: Peixuan
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Guo
authors.forename: Carlo M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Croce
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D052157:Aptamers, Nucleotide / Q000235:genetics / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001932:Brain Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000235:genetics; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D016503:Drug Delivery Systems / Q000379:methods; D006801:Humans; D051379:Mice; D058990:Molecular Targeted Therapy / Q000379:methods; D053758:Nanoparticles / Q000737:chemistry / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D036103:Nanotechnology / Q000379:methods*; D012313:RNA / Q000235:genetics / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016337:RNA, Catalytic / Q000235:genetics / Q000627:therapeutic use; D034741:RNA, Small Interfering / Q000235:genetics / Q000627:therapeutic use
chemical_list: D052157:Aptamers, Nucleotide; D016337:RNA, Catalytic; D034741:RNA, Small Interfering; D012313:RNA