title: Delivery of size-controlled long-circulating polymersomes in solid tumours, visualized by quantum dots and optical imagingin vivo.
abstract: The present study was designed to investigate whether poly-ion complex hollow vesicles (polymersomes), based on chemically modified chitosan, are appropriate for passive tumour targeting in the context of their application as drug carriers. The experiments were performed on colon cancer-grafted mice. The mice were subjected to anaesthesia and injected intravenously with water-soluble nanoparticles: (1) QD705-labelled polymersomes (average size ∼120 nm; size distribution ∼10%) or (2) native QD705. The optical imaging was carried out on Maestro EX 2.10 In Vivo Imaging System (excitation filter 435-480 nm; emission filter 700 nm, longpass). In the case of QD705, the fluorescence appeared in the tumour area within 1 min after injection and disappeared completely within 60 min. A strong fluorescent signal was detected in the liver on the 30th minute. The visualization of tumour using QD705was based only on angiogenesis. In the case of QD705-labelled polymersomes, the fluorescence appeared in the tumour area immediately after injection with excellent visualization of blood vessels in the whole body. A strong fluorescent signal was detected in the tumour area within 16 hours. This indicated that QD705-labelled polymersomes were delivered predominantly into the tumour due to their long circulation in the bloodstream and enhanced permeability and retention effect. A very weak fluorescent signal was found in the liver area. The data suggest that size-controlled long-circulating polymersomes are very promising carriers for drug delivery in solid tumours, including delivery of small nanoparticles and contrast substances.
authors.affiliation: Diagnostic Imaging Program, Molecular Imaging Center, National Institute of Radiological Sciences, Anagawa , Chiba , Japan ; Department of Physics, Biophysics and Roentgenology, Faculty of Medicine, Sofia University "St Kliment Ohridski" , Sofia , Bulgaria.
authors.forename: Rumiana
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Bakalova
authors.affiliation: Department of Physics, Biophysics and Roentgenology, Faculty of Medicine, Sofia University "St Kliment Ohridski" , Sofia , Bulgaria.
authors.forename: Desislava
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Lazarova
authors.affiliation: Department of Electroinduced and Adhesive Properties, Institute of Biophysics and Biomedical Engineering, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences , Sofia , Bulgaria.
authors.forename: Biliana
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Nikolova
authors.affiliation: Department of Electroinduced and Adhesive Properties, Institute of Biophysics and Biomedical Engineering, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences , Sofia , Bulgaria.
authors.forename: Severina
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Atanasova
authors.affiliation: Department of Physics, Biophysics and Roentgenology, Faculty of Medicine, Sofia University "St Kliment Ohridski" , Sofia , Bulgaria.
authors.forename: Genoveva
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Zlateva
authors.affiliation: Diagnostic Imaging Program, Molecular Imaging Center, National Institute of Radiological Sciences, Anagawa , Chiba , Japan ; Department of Electroinduced and Adhesive Properties, Institute of Biophysics and Biomedical Engineering, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences , Sofia , Bulgaria ; Department of Medicinal Chemistry and Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine, Trakia University , Stara Zagora , Bulgaria.
authors.forename: Zhivko
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Zhelev
authors.affiliation: Diagnostic Imaging Program, Molecular Imaging Center, National Institute of Radiological Sciences, Anagawa , Chiba , Japan.
authors.forename: Ichio
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Aoki
keywords: cancer; drug-delivery systems; fluorescent imaging; nanoparticles; polymersomes; quantum dot