title: Polymer nanoassemblies with solvato- and halo-fluorochromism for drug release monitoring and metastasis imaging.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Theranostics, an emerging technique that combines therapeutic and diagnostic modalities for various diseases, holds promise to detect cancer in early stages, eradicate metastatic tumors and ultimately reduce cancer mortality.
  
  
  RESULTS
  This study reports unique polymer nanoassemblies that increase fluorescence intensity upon addition of hydrophobic drugs and either increase or decrease fluorescence intensity in acidic environments, depending on nanoparticle core environment properties. Extensive spectroscopic analyses were performed to determine optimal excitation and emission wavelengths, which enabled real time measurement of drugs releasing from the nanoassemblies and ex vivo imaging of acidic liver metastatic tumors from mice.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Polymer nanoassemblies with solvato- and halo-fluorochromic properties are promising platforms to develop novel theranostic tools for the detection and treatment of metastatic tumors.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, University of Kentucky, 789 South Limestone, Lexington, KY 40536-0596, USA.
authors.forename: Derek
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Reichel
authors.affiliation: Markey Cancer Center, University of Kentucky, 800 Rose Street, CC140, Lexington, KY 40536, USA.|Department of Surgery, College of Medicine, University of Kentucky, 741 South Limestone, Lexington, KY 40536, USA.
authors.forename: Piotr
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Rychahou
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, University of Kentucky, 789 South Limestone, Lexington, KY 40536-0596, USA.
authors.forename: Younsoo
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Bae
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000737:chemistry / Q000493:pharmacokinetics; D003692:Delayed-Action Preparations; D004337:Drug Carriers / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000737:chemistry / Q000493:pharmacokinetics; D005456:Fluorescent Dyes / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000493:pharmacokinetics*; D045325:HCT116 Cells; D006801:Humans; D008114:Liver Neoplasms, Experimental / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008819:Mice, Nude; D049329:Nanostructures / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000737:chemistry*; D011108:Polymers / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000493:pharmacokinetics*
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D003692:Delayed-Action Preparations; D004337:Drug Carriers; D005456:Fluorescent Dyes; D011108:Polymers