Zachary R. Stephen

Targeting of primary breast cancers and metastases in a transgenic mouse model using rationally designed multifunctional SPIONs.

Breast cancer remains one of the most prevalent and lethal malignancies in women. The inability to diagnose small volume metastases early has limited effective treatment of stage 4 breast cancer. Here we report the rational development and use of a multifunctional superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticle (SPION) for targeting metastatic breast cancer in a transgenic mouse model and imaging with magnetic resonance (MR). SPIONs coated with a copolymer of chitosan and polyethylene glycol (PEG) were labeled with a fluorescent dye for optical detection and conjugated with a monoclonal antibody against the neu receptor (NP-neu). SPIONs labeled with mouse IgG were used as a nontargeting control (NP-IgG). These SPIONs had desirable physiochemical properties for in vivo applications such as near neutral zeta potential and hydrodynamic size around 40 nm and were highly stable in serum containing medium. Only NP-neu showed high uptake in neu expressing mouse mammary carcinoma (MMC) cells which was reversed by competing free neu antibody, indicating their specificity to the neu antigen. In vivo, NP-neu was able to tag primary breast tumors and significantly, only NP-neu bound to spontaneous liver, lung, and bone marrow metastases in a transgenic mouse model of metastatic breast cancer, highlighting the necessity of targeting for delivery to metastatic disease. The SPIONs provided significant contrast enhancement in MR images of primary breast tumors; thus, they have the potential for MRI detection of micrometastases and provide an excellent platform for further development of an efficient metastatic breast cancer therapy.

PEG-mediated synthesis of highly dispersive multifunctional superparamagnetic nanoparticles: their physicochemical properties and function in vivo.

Multifunctional superparamagnetic nanoparticles have been developed for a wide range of applications in nanomedicine, such as serving as tumor-targeted drug carriers and molecular imaging agents. To function in vivo, the development of these novel materials must overcome several challenging requirements including biocompatibility, stability in physiological solutions, nontoxicity, and the ability to traverse biological barriers. Here we report a PEG-mediated synthesis process to produce well-dispersed, ultrafine, and highly stable iron oxide nanoparticles for in vivo applications. Utilizing a biocompatible PEG coating bearing amine functional groups, the produced nanoparticles serve as an effective platform with the ability to incorporate a variety of targeting, therapeutic, or imaging ligands. In this study, we demonstrated tumor-specific accumulation of these nanoparticles through both magnetic resonance and optical imaging after conjugation with chlorotoxin, a peptide with high affinity toward tumors of the neuroectodermal origin, and Cy5.5, a near-infrared fluorescent dye. Furthermore, we performed preliminary biodistribution and toxicity assessments of these nanoparticles in wild-type mice through histological analysis of clearance organs and hematology assay, and the results demonstrated the relative biocompatibility of these nanoparticles.

Magnetite nanoparticles for medical MR imaging

Nanotechnology has given scientists new tools for the development of advanced materials for the detection and diagnosis of disease. Iron oxide nanoparticles (SPIONs) in particular have been extensively investigated as novel magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) contrast agents due to a combination of favorable superparamagnetic properties, biodegradability, and surface properties of easy modification for improved in vivo kinetics and multifunctionality. This review discusses the basics of MR imaging, the origin of SPIONs unique magnetic properties, recent developments in MRI acquisition methods for detection of SPIONs, synthesis and post-synthesis processes that improve SPIONs imaging characteristics, and an outlook on the translational potential of SPIONs.

Tumor-targeted drug delivery and MRI contrast enhancement by chlorotoxin-conjugated iron oxide nanoparticles

AIMS This study examines the capabilities of an actively targeting superparamagnetic nanoparticle to specifically deliver therapeutic and MRI contrast agents to cancer cells. MATERIALS & METHODS Iron oxide nanoparticles were synthesized and conjugated to both a chemotherapeutic agent, methotrexate, and a targeting ligand, chlorotoxin, through a poly(ethylene glycol) linker. Cytotoxicity of this nanoparticle conjugate was evaluated by Alamar Blue cell viability assays, while tumor-cell specificity was examined in vitro and in vivo by MRI. RESULTS & DISCUSSION Characterization of these multifunctional nanoparticles confirms the successful attachment of both drug and targeting ligands. The targeting nanoparticle demonstrated preferential accumulation and increased cytotoxicity in tumor cells. Furthermore, prolonged retention of these nanoparticles was observed within tumors in vivo. CONCLUSION The improved specificity, extended particle retention and increased cytotoxicity toward tumor cells demonstrated by this multifunctional nanoparticle system suggest that it possesses potential for applications in cancer diagnosis and treatment.

Fabrication of magnetic nanoparticles with controllable drug loading and release through a simple assembly approach

Nanoparticle-based cancer therapeutics promises to improve drug delivery safety and efficacy. However, fabrication of consistent theranostic nanoparticles with high and controllable drug loading remains a challenge, primarily due to the cumbersome, multi-step synthesis processes conventionally applied. Here, we present a simple and highly controllable method for assembly of theranostic nanoparticles, which may greatly reduce batch-to-batch variation. The major components of this nanoparticle system include a superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticle (SPION), a biodegradable and pH-sensitive poly (beta-amino ester) (PBAE) copolymer, a chemotherapeutic agent doxorubicin (DOX). Here the polymer pre-loaded with drug is directly assembled to the surface of SPIONs forming a drug loaded nanoparticle (NP-DOX). NP-DOX demonstrated a high drug loading efficiency of 679 μg DOX per mg iron, sustained stability in cell culture media up to 7 days, and a strong r(2) relaxivity of 146 mM(-1)•s(-1) for magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). The drug release analysis of NP-DOX showed fast DOX release at pH 5.5 and 6.4 (as in endosomal environment) and slow release at pH 7.4 (physiological condition), demonstrating pH-sensitive drug release kinetics. In vitro evaluation of NP-DOX efficacy using drug-resistant C6 glioma cells showed a 300% increase in cellular internalization at 24h post-treatment and 65% reduction of IC50 at 72 h post-treatment when compared to free DOX. These nanoparticles could serve as a foundation for building smart theranostic formulations for sensitive detection through MRI and effective treatment of cancer by controlled drug release.

Redox-Responsive Magnetic Nanoparticle for Targeted Convection-Enhanced Delivery of O6-Benzylguanine to Brain Tumors

Resistance to temozolomide (TMZ) based chemotherapy in glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) has been attributed to the upregulation of the DNA repair protein O6-methylguanine-DNA methyltransferase (MGMT). Inhibition of MGMT using O6-benzylguanine (BG) has shown promise in these patients, but its clinical use is hindered by poor pharmacokinetics that leads to unacceptable toxicity. To improve BG biodistribution and efficacy, we developed superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles (NP) for targeted convection-enhanced delivery (CED) of BG to GBM. The nanoparticles (NPCP-BG-CTX) consist of a magnetic core coated with a redox-responsive, cross-linked, biocompatible chitosan-PEG copolymer surface coating (NPCP). NPCP was modified through covalent attachment of BG and tumor targeting peptide chlorotoxin (CTX). Controlled, localized BG release was achieved under reductive intracellular conditions and NPCP-BG-CTX demonstrated proper trafficking of BG in human GBM cells in vitro. NPCP-BG-CTX treated cells showed a significant reduction in MGMT activity and the potentiation of TMZ toxicity. In vivo, CED of NPCP-BG-CTX produced an excellent volume of distribution (Vd) within the brain of mice bearing orthotopic human primary GBM xenografts. Significantly, concurrent treatment with NPCP-BG-CTX and TMZ showed a 3-fold increase in median overall survival in comparison to NPCP-CTX/TMZ treated and untreated animals. Furthermore, NPCP-BG-CTX mitigated the myelosuppression observed with free BG in wild-type mice when administered concurrently with TMZ. The combination of favorable physicochemical properties, tumor cell specific BG delivery, controlled BG release, and improved in vivo efficacy demonstrates the great potential of these NPs as a treatment option that could lead to improved clinical outcomes.

Temozolomide nanoparticles for targeted glioblastoma therapy.

Glioblastoma (GBM) is a deadly and debilitating brain tumor with an abysmal prognosis. The standard therapy for GBM is surgery followed by radiation and chemotherapy with Temozolomide (TMZ). Treatment of GBMs remains a challenge, largely because of the fast degradation of TMZ, the inability to deliver an effective dose of TMZ to tumors, and a lack of target specificity that may cause systemic toxicity. Here, we present a simple method for synthesizing a nanoparticle-based carrier that can protect TMZ from rapid degradation in physiological solutions and can specifically deliver them to GBM cells through the mediation of a tumor-targeting peptide chlorotoxin (CTX). Our nanoparticle, namely NP-TMZ-CTX, had a hydrodynamic size of <100 nm, exhibited sustained stability in cell culture media for up to 2 weeks, and could accommodate stable drug loading. TMZ bound to nanoparticles showed a much higher stability at physiological pH, with a half-life 7-fold greater than that of free TMZ. NP-TMZ-CTX was able to target GBM cells and achieved 2-6-fold higher uptake and a 50-90% reduction of IC50 72 h post-treatment as compared to nontargeted NP-TMZ. NP-TMZ-CTX showed great promise in its ability to deliver a large therapeutic dose of TMZ to GBM cells and could serve as a template for targeted delivery of other therapeutics.

Chitosan-Coated Iron Oxide Nanoparticles for Molecular Imaging and Drug Delivery

Iron oxide nanoparticles (IONPs) are a new class of nanomaterials which have attracted extensive interest for application in in vivo magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) due to their intrinsic superparamagnetic and biodegradable properties. Performance of the IONPs is largely dependent upon the properties of their surface coatings, which serve to prevent nanoparticle agglomeration, reduce the risk of immunogenicity, and limit nonspecific cellular uptake. Among the coating materials studied to date, chitosan has drawn considerable attention. Commonly derived from crustacean shells, chitosan is a natural linear polysaccharide and has ample reactive functional groups that can serve as anchors for conjugation of therapeutics, targeting ligands, and imaging agents. Because of these unique attributes, chitosan-coated IONPs are becoming more desirable for cancer imaging and therapy applications. This chapter discusses the current advances and challenges in synthesis of chitosan-coated IONPs, and their subsequent surface modifications for applications in cancer diagnosis and therapy.

Glypican-3 Targeting of Liver Cancer Cells Using Multifunctional Nanoparticles

Imaging is essential in accurately detecting, staging, and treating primary liver cancer (hepatocellular carcinoma [HCC]), one of the most prevalent and lethal malignancies. We developed a novel multifunctional nanoparticle (NP) specifically targeting glypican-3 (GPC3), a proteoglycan implicated in promotion of cell growth that is overexpressed in most HCCs. Quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction was performed to confirm the differential GPC3 expression in two human HCC cells, Hep G2 (high) and HLF (negligible). These cells were treated with biotin-conjugated GPC3 monoclonal antibody (αGPC3) and subsequently targeted using superparamagnetic iron oxide NPs conjugated to streptavidin and Alexa Fluor 647. Flow cytometry demonstrated that only GPC3-expressing Hep G2 cells were specifically targeted using this αGPC3-NP conjugate (fourfold mean fluorescence over nontargeted NP), and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) experiments showed similar findings (threefold R2 relaxivity). Confocal fluorescence microscopy localized the αGPC3 NPs only to the cell surface of GPC3-expressing Hep G2 cells. Further characterization of this construct demonstrated a negatively charged, monodisperse, 50 nm NP, ideally suited for tumor targeting. This GPC3-specific NP system, with dual-modality imaging capability, may enhance pretreatment MRI, enable refined intraoperative HCC visualization by near-infrared fluorescence, and be potentially used as a carrier for delivery of tumor-targeted therapies, improving patient outcomes.

3D Porous Chitosan–Alginate Scaffolds as an In Vitro Model for Evaluating Nanoparticle-Mediated Tumor Targeting and Gene Delivery to Prostate Cancer

Cationic nanoparticles (NPs) for targeted gene delivery are conventionally evaluated using 2D in vitro cultures. However, this does not translate well to corresponding in vivo studies because of the marked difference in NP behavior in the presence of the tumor microenvironment. In this study, we investigated whether prostate cancer (PCa) cells cultured in three-dimensional (3D) chitosan-alginate (CA) porous scaffolds could model cationic NP-mediated gene targeted delivery to tumors in vitro. We assessed in vitro tumor cell proliferation, formation of tumor spheroids, and expression of marker genes that promote tumor malignancy in CA scaffolds. The efficacy of NP-targeted gene delivery was evaluated in PCa cells in 2D cultures, PCa tumor spheroids grown in CA scaffolds, and PCa tumors in a mouse TRAMP-C2 flank tumor model. PCa cells cultured in CA scaffolds grew into tumor spheroids and displayed characteristics of higher malignancy as compared to those in 2D cultures. Significantly, targeted gene delivery was only observed in cells cultured in CA scaffolds, whereas cells cultured on 2D plates showed no difference in gene delivery between targeted and nontarget control NPs. In vivo NP evaluation confirmed targeted gene delivery, indicating that only CA scaffolds correctly modeled NP-mediated targeted delivery in vivo. These findings suggest that CA scaffolds serve as a better in vitro platform than 2D cultures for evaluation of NP-mediated targeted gene delivery to PCa.