title: Neuropeptide Y Y1receptor-mediated biodegradable photoluminescent nanobubbles as ultrasound contrast agents for targeted breast cancer imaging.
abstract: Targeted molecular imaging has attracted great attention in cancer diagnosis and treatment. However, most clinically used ultrasound contrast agents (UCAs) are non-targeted microbubbles seldom used for cancer imaging. Here, we fabricated fluorescent nanobubbles (NBs) by encapsulation of liquid tetradecafluorohexane (C6F14) within biodegradable photoluminescent polymers (BPLPs) through an emulsion-evaporation process and conjugation of PNBL-NPY ligand for specific targeting of Y1receptors overexpressed in breast tumors. The developed PNBL-NPY modified NBs were uniform in size with good dispersibility and photostability, presenting good ultrasound enhancement. Further, in vitro and in vivo results indicated that the fabricated NBs exhibit high affinity and specificity to Y1receptor-overexpressing breast cancer cells and tumors with minimal toxicity and damage to organs. Our developed PNBL-NPY-modified NBs are novel targeted UCAs for safe, efficient and specific targeted breast cancer imaging, and may provide a new nanoplatform for early cancer diagnosis and treatment in the future.
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Magnetic Materials and Devices & Key Laboratory of Additive Manufacturing Materials of Zhejiang Province & Division of Functional Materials and Nanodevices, Ningbo Institute of Materials Technology and Engineering, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Ningbo 315201, PR China.
authors.forename: Juan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Magnetic Materials and Devices & Key Laboratory of Additive Manufacturing Materials of Zhejiang Province & Division of Functional Materials and Nanodevices, Ningbo Institute of Materials Technology and Engineering, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Ningbo 315201, PR China; Nano Science and Technology Institute, University of Science and Technology of China, Suzhou 215123, PR China.
authors.forename: Yuchen
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Tian
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomedical Engineering, Materials Research Institute, The Huck Institutes of the Life Sciences, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802, USA.
authors.forename: Dingying
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Shan
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Magnetic Materials and Devices & Key Laboratory of Additive Manufacturing Materials of Zhejiang Province & Division of Functional Materials and Nanodevices, Ningbo Institute of Materials Technology and Engineering, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Ningbo 315201, PR China.
authors.forename: An
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Gong
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Magnetic Materials and Devices & Key Laboratory of Additive Manufacturing Materials of Zhejiang Province & Division of Functional Materials and Nanodevices, Ningbo Institute of Materials Technology and Engineering, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Ningbo 315201, PR China.
authors.forename: Leyong
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Zeng
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Magnetic Materials and Devices & Key Laboratory of Additive Manufacturing Materials of Zhejiang Province & Division of Functional Materials and Nanodevices, Ningbo Institute of Materials Technology and Engineering, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Ningbo 315201, PR China.
authors.forename: Wenzhi
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Ren
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Magnetic Materials and Devices & Key Laboratory of Additive Manufacturing Materials of Zhejiang Province & Division of Functional Materials and Nanodevices, Ningbo Institute of Materials Technology and Engineering, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Ningbo 315201, PR China.
authors.forename: Lingchao
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Xiang
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomedical Engineering, Materials Research Institute, The Huck Institutes of the Life Sciences, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802, USA.
authors.forename: Ethan
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Gerhard
authors.affiliation: Public Health Department, Ningbo University, 818 Fenghua Road, Ningbo 315211, PR China.
authors.forename: Jinshun
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Zhao
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomedical Engineering, Materials Research Institute, The Huck Institutes of the Life Sciences, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802, USA.
authors.forename: Jian
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Magnetic Materials and Devices & Key Laboratory of Additive Manufacturing Materials of Zhejiang Province & Division of Functional Materials and Nanodevices, Ningbo Institute of Materials Technology and Engineering, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Ningbo 315201, PR China. Electronic address: aiguo@nimte.ac.cn.
authors.forename: Aiguo
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Wu
mesh_terms: D020341:Absorbable Implants; D000818:Animals; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D003287:Contrast Media / Q000138:chemical synthesis*; D005260:Female; D049449:Luminescence; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D025202:Molecular Diagnostic Techniques / Q000379:methods*; D053769:Nanocapsules / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000528:radiation effects; D017476:Receptors, Neuropeptide Y; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D014463:Ultrasonography / Q000379:methods*
chemical_list: D003287:Contrast Media; D053769:Nanocapsules; D017476:Receptors, Neuropeptide Y; C097212:neuropeptide Y-Y1 receptor
keywords: Biodegradable photoluminescent polymers; Breast cancer; Nanobubbles; Neuropeptide Y Y(1) receptor; Targeted imaging; Ultrasound contrast agents