Opening Up the Optical Imaging Window Using Nano-Luciferin

• Published in: Pharmaceutical research 2014-11, Vol.31 (11), p.3073-3084
• Main Authors: Patel, Apurva R., Lim, Ed, Francis, Kevin P., Singh, Mandip
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Animals; Benzothiazoles; Biochemistry; Biomedical and Life Sciences; Biomedical Engineering and Bioengineering; Biomedicine; Cell Line; Cell Line, Tumor; Chemistry, Pharmaceutical - methods; Female; Half-Life; Medical Law; Mice; Mice, Inbred BALB C; Mice, Nude; Nanoparticles; Optical Imaging - methods; Particle Size; Pharmacology/Toxicology; Pharmacy; Research Paper; Scientific imaging; Tumors
• ISSN: 0724-8741; 1573-904X
• DOI: 10.1007/s11095-014-1400-9

Purpose The objective of this study was to formulate nanoparticles of D-luciferin (Nano-Luc), DiR (Nano-DiR) and dual functional nanoparticles with DiR and luciferin (Nano-LucDiR) for in-vivo imaging as well as tracking of the nanoparticles in tumors. Methods Nano-Luc and Nano-LucDiR were prepared using different lipids, and subsequently characterized for loading and entrapment efficiency, physical properties, release profile, toxicity and stability. We utilized Response Surface Methodology (RSM) to optimize the nanoparticles using design of experiment (DOE Vr.8.0). Nano-Luc was evaluated against free luciferin to establish its pharmacokinetic parameters in mice. In-vivo imaging of tumors and tracking of nanoparticles was carried out with an IVIS® Spectrum-CT (Caliper) using xenograft, orthotopic and metastatic tumor models in BALB/c nude mice with different cell lines and different routes of nanoparticle administration (subcutaneous, intraperitoneal and intravenous). Results Particle size of both Nano-Luc and Nano-LucDiR were found to be