Chemical gas-generating nanoparticles for tumor-targeted ultrasound imaging and ultrasound-triggered drug delivery.
Although there is great versatility of ultrasound (US) technologies in the real clinical field, one main technical challenge is the compromising of high quality of echo properties and size engineering of ultrasound contrast agents (UCAs); a high echo property is offset by reducing particle size. Herein, a new strategy for overcoming the dilemma by devising chemical gas (CO2) generating carbonate copolymer nanoparticles (Gas-NPs), which are clearly distinguished from the conventional gas-encapsulated micro-sized UCAs. More importantly, Gas-NPs could be readily engineered to strengthen the desirable in vivo physicochemical properties for nano-sized drug carriers with higher tumor targeting ability, as well as the high quality of echo properties for tumor-targeted US imaging. In tumor-bearing mice, anticancer drug-loaded Gas-NPs showed the desirable theranostic functions for US-triggered drug delivery, even after i.v. injection. In this regard, and as demonstrated in the aforementioned study, our technology could serve a highly effective platform in building theranostic UCAs with great sophistication and therapeutic applicability in tumor-targeted US imaging and US-triggered drug delivery.
Center for Theragnosis, Biomedical Research Institute, Korea Institute of Science and Technology, 39-1 Hawolgok-dong, Seongbuk-gu, Seoul 136-791, Republic of Korea.
Hyun Su
HS
Min
Center for Theragnosis, Biomedical Research Institute, Korea Institute of Science and Technology, 39-1 Hawolgok-dong, Seongbuk-gu, Seoul 136-791, Republic of Korea.
Sejin
S
Son
Center for Theragnosis, Biomedical Research Institute, Korea Institute of Science and Technology, 39-1 Hawolgok-dong, Seongbuk-gu, Seoul 136-791, Republic of Korea; School of Chemical Engineering, Sungkyunkwan University, Suwon 440-746, Republic of Korea.
Dong Gil
DG
You
Center for Theragnosis, Biomedical Research Institute, Korea Institute of Science and Technology, 39-1 Hawolgok-dong, Seongbuk-gu, Seoul 136-791, Republic of Korea.
Tae Woong
TW
Lee
Center for Theragnosis, Biomedical Research Institute, Korea Institute of Science and Technology, 39-1 Hawolgok-dong, Seongbuk-gu, Seoul 136-791, Republic of Korea.
Jangwook
J
Lee
Center for Theragnosis, Biomedical Research Institute, Korea Institute of Science and Technology, 39-1 Hawolgok-dong, Seongbuk-gu, Seoul 136-791, Republic of Korea.
Sangmin
S
Lee
Center for Theragnosis, Biomedical Research Institute, Korea Institute of Science and Technology, 39-1 Hawolgok-dong, Seongbuk-gu, Seoul 136-791, Republic of Korea.
Ji Young
JY
Yhee
Department of Radiology, Seoul National University Hospital, 101 Daehangno, Jongno-gu, Seoul 110-744, Republic of Korea.
Jaeyoung
J
Lee
Department of Radiology, Seoul National University Hospital, 101 Daehangno, Jongno-gu, Seoul 110-744, Republic of Korea.
Moon Hee
MH
Han
School of Chemical Engineering, Sungkyunkwan University, Suwon 440-746, Republic of Korea.
Jae Hyung
JH
Park
Center for Theragnosis, Biomedical Research Institute, Korea Institute of Science and Technology, 39-1 Hawolgok-dong, Seongbuk-gu, Seoul 136-791, Republic of Korea.
Sun Hwa
SH
Kim
Center for Theragnosis, Biomedical Research Institute, Korea Institute of Science and Technology, 39-1 Hawolgok-dong, Seongbuk-gu, Seoul 136-791, Republic of Korea.
Kuiwon
K
Choi
Department of Biomedical Engineering and Pharmaceutics, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN 47960, USA.
Kinam
K
Park
Center for Theragnosis, Biomedical Research Institute, Korea Institute of Science and Technology, 39-1 Hawolgok-dong, Seongbuk-gu, Seoul 136-791, Republic of Korea. Electronic address: kim@kist.re.kr.
Kwangmeyung
K
Kim
Center for Theragnosis, Biomedical Research Institute, Korea Institute of Science and Technology, 39-1 Hawolgok-dong, Seongbuk-gu, Seoul 136-791, Republic of Korea; KU-KIST School, Korea University, Anam-dong, Seongbuk-gu, Seoul 136-701, Republic of Korea. Electronic address: ikwon@kist.re.kr.
Ick Chan
IC
Kwon
D000818:Animals; D002245:Carbon Dioxide / Q000138:chemical synthesis / Q000528:radiation effects; D003287:Contrast Media / Q000138:chemical synthesis; D003692:Delayed-Action Preparations / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000528:radiation effects; D004317:Doxorubicin / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000737:chemistry; D016503:Drug Delivery Systems / Q000379:methods; D019220:High-Energy Shock Waves; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008809:Mice, Inbred C3H; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D053758:Nanoparticles / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000528:radiation effects; D009374:Neoplasms, Experimental / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000628:therapy*; D000068936:Theranostic Nanomedicine / Q000379:methods*; D014463:Ultrasonography / Q000379:methods*
D003287:Contrast Media; D003692:Delayed-Action Preparations; D002245:Carbon Dioxide; D004317:Doxorubicin
Chemical gas-generating nanoparticle; Drug delivery; Tumor targeting; Ultrasound (US) imaging; Ultrasound contrast agent (UCA)