title: A superparamagnetic polymersome with extremely high T2relaxivity for MRI and cancer-targeted drug delivery.
abstract: Improving the relaxivity of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) contrast agents is an important challenge for cancer theranostics. Herein we report the design, synthesis, characterization, theoretical analysis and in vivo tests of a superparamagnetic polymersome as a new MRI contrast agent with extremely high T2relaxivity (611.6 mM-1s-1). First, a noncytotoxic cancer-targeting polymersome is synthesized based on a biodegradable diblock copolymer, folic acid-poly(l-glutamic acid)-block-poly(ε-caprolactone) [FA-PGA-b-PCL]. Then, ultra-small superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles (SPIONs) are in situ generated in the hydrophilic PGA coronas of polymersomes to afford magnetic polymersomes. The in vivo MRI assay revealed prominent negative contrast enhancement of magnetic polymersomes at a very low Fe dose of 0.011 mmol/kg. Moreover, this cancer-targeting magnetic polymersome can effectively encapsulate and deliver anticancer drug to inhibit the tumor growth, demonstrating promising theranostic applications in biomedicine.
authors.affiliation: Shanghai Tenth People's Hospital, Tongji University School of Medicine, 301 Middle Yanchang Road, Shanghai 200072, China; Department of Polymeric Materials, School of Materials Science and Engineering, Tongji University, 4800 Caoan Road, Shanghai 201804, China.
authors.forename: Qiuming
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.affiliation: Shanghai Tenth People's Hospital, Tongji University School of Medicine, 301 Middle Yanchang Road, Shanghai 200072, China.
authors.forename: Liwen
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Song
authors.affiliation: Department of Polymeric Materials, School of Materials Science and Engineering, Tongji University, 4800 Caoan Road, Shanghai 201804, China.
authors.forename: Shuai
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.affiliation: Department of Polymeric Materials, School of Materials Science and Engineering, Tongji University, 4800 Caoan Road, Shanghai 201804, China.
authors.forename: Jingyi
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Gao
authors.affiliation: Shanghai Tenth People's Hospital, Tongji University School of Medicine, 301 Middle Yanchang Road, Shanghai 200072, China.
authors.forename: Peiyu
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Zhao
authors.affiliation: Shanghai Tenth People's Hospital, Tongji University School of Medicine, 301 Middle Yanchang Road, Shanghai 200072, China; Department of Polymeric Materials, School of Materials Science and Engineering, Tongji University, 4800 Caoan Road, Shanghai 201804, China. Electronic address: jzdu@tongji.edu.cn.
authors.forename: Jianzhong
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Du
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000903:Antibiotics, Antineoplastic / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000737:chemistry; D003287:Contrast Media / Q000138:chemical synthesis; D003911:Dextrans / Q000737:chemistry*; D004317:Doxorubicin / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000737:chemistry; D016503:Drug Delivery Systems; D006367:HeLa Cells; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods*; D058185:Magnetite Nanoparticles / Q000737:chemistry*; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008819:Mice, Nude; D053769:Nanocapsules / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000737:chemistry / Q000648:ultrastructure; D009374:Neoplasms, Experimental / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D011108:Polymers / Q000737:chemistry*; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D000068936:Theranostic Nanomedicine / Q000379:methods*
chemical_list: D000903:Antibiotics, Antineoplastic; D003287:Contrast Media; D003911:Dextrans; D058185:Magnetite Nanoparticles; D053769:Nanocapsules; D011108:Polymers; C097921:ferumoxtran-10; D004317:Doxorubicin
keywords: Antitumor drug delivery; MRI; Polymer vesicle; Polymersome; Self-assembly; Superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles