Synthesis and evaluation of condensed magnetic nanocrystal clusters with in vivo multispectral optoacoustic tomography for tumour targeting

• Published in: Biomaterials 2016-06, Vol.91, p.128-139
• Main Authors: Sarigiannis, Yiannis, Kolokithas-Ntoukas, Αrgiris, Beziere, Nicolas, Zbořil, Radek, Papadimitriou, Evangelia, Avgoustakis, Konstantinos, Lamprou, Margarita, Medrikova, Zdenka, Rousalis, Elias, Ntziachristos, Vasilis, Bakandritsos, Aristides
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Advanced Basic Science; Animals; Antibiotics, Antineoplastic - administration & dosage; Biocompatibility; Breast - pathology; Breast Neoplasms - diagnostic imaging; Breast Neoplasms - pathology; Clusters; Colloids; Dentistry; Doxorubicin - administration & dosage; Drug Delivery Systems; Female; Ferric Compounds - chemistry; Ferric Compounds - pharmacokinetics; Hybrid colloids; Hyperthermia; Magnetic resonance imaging; Magnetic targeting; Magnets - chemistry; Mice; Mice, Nude; Nanocrystal clusters; Nanocrystals; Nanoparticles - analysis; Nanoparticles - chemistry; Nanostructure; Optoacoustic imaging; Photoacoustic Techniques - methods; Polyethylene Glycols - chemistry; Polyethylene Glycols - pharmacokinetics; Synthesis; Theranostics; Tomography; Tomography, X-Ray Computed - methods
• ISSN: 0142-9612; 1878-5905
• DOI: 10.1016/j.biomaterials.2016.03.015

Abstract Colloidal clusters of magnetic iron oxide nanocrystals (MIONs), particularly in the condensed pattern (co-CNCs), have emerged as new superstructures to improve further the performance of MIONs in applications pertaining to magnetic manipulation (drug delivery) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Exploitation of the advantages they represent and their establishment in the area of nanomedicine demands a particular set of assets. The present work describes the development and evaluation of MION-based co-CNCs featuring for the first time such assets: High magnetization, as well as magnetic content and moment, high relaxivities ( r2  = 400 and r 2 * = 905 s − 1 mM Fe − 1 ) and intrinsic loss power (2.3 nH m2 kgFe−1 ) are combined with unprecedented colloidal stability and structural integrity, stealth and drug-loading properties. The reported nanoconstructs are endowed with additional important features such as cost-effective synthesis and storage, prolonged self-life and biocompatibility. It is finally showcased with in vivo multispectral optoacoustic tomography how these properties culminate in a system suitable for targeting breast cancer and for forceful in vivo manipulation with low magnetic field gradients.