Einar Sulheim

Cellular uptake and intracellular degradation of poly(alkyl cyanoacrylate) nanoparticles

AbstractBackground Poly(alkyl cyanoacrylate) (PACA) nanoparticles have shown promise as drug carriers both to solid tumors and across the blood–brain barrier. Efficient drug delivery requires both high cellular uptake of the nanoparticles and release of the drug from the nanoparticles. Release of hydrophobic drugs from PACA nanoparticles is primarily governed by nanoparticle degradation, and this process has been poorly studied at the cellular level. Here we use the hydrophobic model drug Nile Red 668 (NR668) to investigate intracellular degradation of PACA nanoparticles by measuring changes in NR668 fluorescence emission and lifetime, as the spectral properties of NR668 depend on the hydrophobicity of the dye environment. We also assess the potential of poly(butyl cyanoacrylate) (PBCA) and poly(octyl cyanoacrylate) (POCA) nanoparticles for intracellular drug delivery in the prostate cancer cell line PC3 and rat brain endothelial cell line RBE4 and the role of endocytosis pathways in PACA nanoparticle uptake in those cell lines.ResultsFluorescence lifetime imaging, emission spectra analysis and Förster resonance energy transfer indicated that the intracellular degradation was in line with the degradation found by direct methods such as gas chromatography and scanning electron microscopy, showing that PBCA has a faster degradation rate compared to POCA. The combined P(BCA/OCA) nanoparticles had an intermediate degradation rate. The uptake of POCA and PBCA nanoparticles was much higher in RBE4 than in PC3 cells. Endocytosis inhibition studies showed that both clathrin- and caveolin-mediated endocytosis were involved in PACA nanoparticle uptake, and that the former played a predominant role, particularly in PC3 cells.ConclusionsIn the present study, we used three different optical techniques to show that within a 24-hour period PBCA nanoparticles degraded significantly inside cells, releasing their payload into the cytosol, while POCA nanoparticles remained intact. This indicates that it is possible to tune the intracellular drug release rate by choosing appropriate monomers from the PACA family or by using hybrid PACA nanoparticles containing different monomers. In addition, we showed that the uptake of PACA nanoparticles depends not only on the monomer material, but also on the cell type, and that different cell lines can use different internalization pathways.

Nanoparticle-stabilized microbubbles for multimodal imaging and drug delivery

Microbubbles (MBs) are routinely used as contrast agents for ultrasound imaging. The use of ultrasound in combination with MBs has also attracted attention as a method to enhance drug delivery. We have developed a technology platform incorporating multiple functionalities, including imaging and therapy in a single system consisting of MBs stabilized by polyethylene glycol (PEG)-coated polymeric nanoparticles (NPs). The NPs, containing lipophilic drugs and/or contrast agents, are composed of the widely used poly(butyl cyanoacrylate) (PBCA) polymer and prepared in a single step. MBs stabilized by these NPs are subsequently prepared by self-assembly of NPs at the MB air-liquid interface. Here we show that these MBs can act as contrast agents for conventional ultrasound imaging. Successful encapsulation of iron oxide NPs inside the PBCA NPs is demonstrated, potentially enabling the NP-MBs to be used as magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and/or molecular ultrasound imaging contrast agents. By precise tuning of the applied ultrasound pulse, the MBs burst and the NPs constituting the shell are released. This could result in increased local deposit of NPs into target tissue, providing improved therapy and imaging contrast compared with freely distributed NPs.

Labeling nanoparticles: Dye leakage and altered cellular uptake

In vitro and in vivo behavior of nanoparticles (NPs) is often studied by tracing the NPs with fluorescent dyes. This requires stable incorporation of dyes within the NPs, as dye leakage may give a wrong interpretation of NP biodistribution, cellular uptake, and intracellular distribution. Furthermore, NP labeling with trace amounts of dye should not alter NP properties such as interactions with cells or tissues. To allow for versatile NP studies with a variety of fluorescence‐based assays, labeling of NPs with different dyes is desirable. Hence, when new dyes are introduced, simple and fast screening methods to assess labeling stability and NP–cell interactions are needed. For this purpose, we have used a previously described generic flow cytometry assay; incubation of cells with NPs at 4 and 37°C. Cell–NP interaction is confirmed by cellular fluorescence after 37°C incubation, and NP‐dye retention is confirmed when no cellular fluorescence is detected at 4°C. Three different NP‐platforms labeled with six different dyes were screened, and a great variability in dye retention was observed. Surprisingly, incorporation of trace amounts of certain dyes was found to reduce or even inhibit NP uptake. This work highlights the importance of thoroughly evaluating every dye–NP combination before pursuing NP‐based applications.

The effect of poly(ethylene glycol) coating and monomer type on poly(alkyl cyanoacrylate) nanoparticle interactions with lipid monolayers and cells

The interaction of the promising drug carriers poly(alkyl cyanoacrylate) nanoparticles (PACA NPs) with lipid monolayers modeling the cell membrane and with RBE4 immortalized rat brain endothelial cells was compared to assess the relevance of lipid monolayer-based cell membrane models for PACA NP cellular uptake. NP properties such as size and charge of NPs and density of poly(ethylene glycol) coating (PEG) were kept in a narrow range to assess whether the type of PEG coating and the PACA monomer affected NP-monolayer and NP-cell interactions. The interaction with lipid monolayers was evaluated using surface pressure measurements and Brewster angle microscopy. NP association with and uptake by cells were assessed using flow cytometry and confocal laser scanning microscopy. The interaction between NPs and both lipid monolayers and the plasma membrane depended on the type of PEG. PEG density affected cellular uptake but not interaction with lipid monolayers. NP monomer, NPs size and charge had no effect on the interaction. This might be due to the fact that the size and charge distribution was kept rather narrow to study the effect of PACA monomer and PEG type. In conclusion, while modeling solely the passive aspect of NP-cell interactions, lipid monolayers nevertheless proved a valuable cell membrane model whose interaction with PACA NPs correlated well with NP-cell interaction. In addition, both NP-monolayer and NP-cell interactions were dependent on PEGylation type, which could be used in the design of NPs to either facilitate or hinder cellular uptake, depending on the intended purpose.

Quantification and Qualitative Effects of Different PEGylations on Poly(butyl cyanoacrylate) Nanoparticles

Protein adsorption on nanoparticles (NPs) used in nanomedicine leads to opsonization and activation of the complement system in blood, which substantially reduces the blood circulation time of NPs. The most commonly used method to avoid protein adsorption is to coat the NPs with polyethylene glycol, so-called PEGylation. Although PEGylation is of utmost importance for designing the in vivo behavior of the NP, there is still a considerable lack of methods for characterization and fundamental understanding related to the PEGylation of NPs. In this work we have studied four different poly(butyl cyanoacrylate) (PBCA) NPs, PEGylated with different types of PEG-based nonionic surfactants-Jeffamine M-2070, Brij L23, Kolliphor HS 15, Pluronic F68-or combinations thereof. We evaluated the PEGylation, both quantitatively by nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), and time-of-flight secondary ion mass spectrometry (ToF-SIMS) and qualitatively by studying ζ-potential, protein adsorption, diffusion, cellular interactions, and blood circulation half-life. We found that NMR and ToF-SIMS are complementary methods, while TGA is less suitable to quantitate PEG on polymeric NPs. It was found that longer PEG increases both blood circulation time and diffusion of NPs in collagen gels.

Ultrasound Improves the Delivery and Therapeutic Effect of Nanoparticle-Stabilized Microbubbles in Breast Cancer Xenografts

Compared with conventional chemotherapy, encapsulation of drugs in nanoparticles can improve efficacy and reduce toxicity. However, delivery of nanoparticles is often insufficient and heterogeneous because of various biological barriers and uneven tumor perfusion. We investigated a unique multifunctional drug delivery system consisting of microbubbles stabilized by polymeric nanoparticles (NPMBs), enabling ultrasound-mediated drug delivery. The aim was to examine mechanisms of ultrasound-mediated delivery and to determine if increased tumor uptake had a therapeutic benefit. Cellular uptake and toxicity, circulation and biodistribution were characterized. After intravenous injection of NPMBs into mice, tumors were treated with ultrasound of various pressures and pulse lengths, and distribution of nanoparticles was imaged on tumor sections. No effects of low pressures were observed, whereas complete bubble destruction at higher pressures improved tumor uptake 2.3 times, without tissue damage. An enhanced therapeutic effect was illustrated in a promising proof-of-concept study, in which all tumors exhibited regression into complete remission.

Multi-modal characterization of vasculature and nanoparticle accumulation in five tumor xenograft models

ABSTRACT Preclinical research has demonstrated that nanoparticles and macromolecules can accumulate in solid tumors due to the enhanced permeability and retention effect. However, drug loaded nanoparticles often fail to show increased efficacy in clinical trials. A better understanding of how tumor heterogeneity affects nanoparticle accumulation could help elucidate this discrepancy and help in patient selection for nanomedicine therapy. Here we studied five human tumor models with varying morphology and evaluated the accumulation of 100nm polystyrene nanoparticles. Each tumor model was characterized in vivo using micro‐computed tomography, contrast‐enhanced ultrasound and diffusion‐weighted and dynamic contrast‐enhanced magnetic resonance imaging. Ex vivo, the tumors were sectioned for both fluorescence microscopy and histology. Nanoparticle uptake and distribution in the tumors were generally heterogeneous. Density of functional blood vessels measured by fluorescence microscopy correlated significantly (p=0.0056) with nanoparticle accumulation and interestingly, inflow of microbubbles measured with ultrasound also showed a moderate but significant (p=0.041) correlation with nanoparticle accumulation indicating that both amount of vessels and vessel morphology and perfusion predict nanoparticle accumulation. This indicates that blood vessel characterization using contrast‐enhanced ultrasound imaging or other methods could be valuable for patient stratification for treatment with nanomedicines.

Ultrasound-mediated delivery and distribution of polymeric nanoparticles in the normal brain parenchyma of a metastatic brain tumour model

The treatment of brain diseases is hindered by the blood-brain barrier (BBB) preventing most drugs from entering the brain. Focused ultrasound (FUS) with microbubbles can open the BBB safely and reversibly. Systemic drug injection might induce toxicity, but encapsulation into nanoparticles reduces accumulation in normal tissue. Here we used a novel platform based on poly(2-ethyl-butyl cyanoacrylate) nanoparticle-stabilized microbubbles to permeabilize the BBB in a melanoma brain metastasis model. With a dual-frequency ultrasound transducer generating FUS at 1.1 MHz and 7.8 MHz, we opened the BBB using nanoparticle-microbubbles and low-frequency FUS, and applied high-frequency FUS to generate acoustic radiation force and push nanoparticles through the extracellular matrix. Using confocal microscopy and image analysis, we quantified nanoparticle extravasation and distribution in the brain parenchyma. We also evaluated haemorrhage, as well as the expression of P-glycoprotein, a key BBB component. FUS and microbubbles distributed nanoparticles in the brain parenchyma, and the distribution depended on the extent of BBB opening. The results from acoustic radiation force were not conclusive, but in a few animals some effect could be detected. P-glycoprotein was not significantly altered immediately after sonication. In summary, FUS with our nanoparticle-stabilized microbubbles can achieve accumulation and displacement of nanoparticles in the brain parenchyma.

Cytotoxicity of Poly(Alkyl Cyanoacrylate) Nanoparticles

Although nanotoxicology has become a large research field, assessment of cytotoxicity is often reduced to analysis of one cell line only. Cytotoxicity of nanoparticles is complex and should, preferentially, be evaluated in several cell lines with different methods and on multiple nanoparticle batches. Here we report the toxicity of poly(alkyl cyanoacrylate) nanoparticles in 12 different cell lines after synthesizing and analyzing 19 different nanoparticle batches and report that large variations were obtained when using different cell lines or various toxicity assays. Surprisingly, we found that nanoparticles with intermediate degradation rates were less toxic than particles that were degraded faster or more slowly in a cell-free system. The toxicity did not vary significantly with either the three different combinations of polyethylene glycol surfactants or with particle size (range 100–200 nm). No acute pro- or anti-inflammatory activity on cells in whole blood was observed.