Gas-filled phospholipid nanoparticles conjugated with gadolinium play a role as a potential theragnostics for MR-guided HIFU ablation

PLoS One. 2012;7(3):e34333. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0034333. Epub 2012 Mar 29.

Abstract

To develop a long-circulating theragnostics, meaning therapeutics and diagnostics for MR-guided HIFU ablation, we designed and prepared Gd-C(5)F(12)-phospholipid nanobubbles (PLNs) 30-100 nm in diameter. The biochemical and physical characterization of Gd-C(5)F(12)-PLNs were performed. Since Gd-C(5)F(12)-PLN-50 (Φ = 50 nm) and Gd-C(5)F(12)-PLN-100 (Φ = 100 nm) enhanced the hyperthermal effect of HIFU size- and concentration-dependently in a tissue-mimicking phantom, its circulation, distribution, tumor accumulation and tumor ablation were examined in tumor-bearing mice. The plasma-half life of Gd-C(5)F(12)-PLNs was longer than 1.5 hrs. Gd-C(5)F(12)-PLNs mainly accumulated in the liver and the spleen, suggesting that they are slowly secreted through the hepatobiliary pathway. Monitored by the T1 signal intensity of MR, Gd-C(5)F(12)-PLNs accumulated in tumor tissues for 8 hours in mice. HIFU with Gd-C(5)F(12)-PLN-100 showed the increased tumor ablation area as compared with HIFU alone. The results suggest that Gd-C(5)F(12)-PLNs exhibit a potential theragnostics for MR-guided HIFU ablation.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Biocompatible Materials / chemistry
  • Contrast Media / pharmacology
  • Gadolinium / chemistry*
  • Gadolinium DTPA / chemistry
  • Gases
  • High-Intensity Focused Ultrasound Ablation / methods*
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred BALB C
  • Nanoparticles / chemistry*
  • Neoplasms / therapy*
  • Phantoms, Imaging
  • Phospholipids / chemistry*
  • Phosphorus / chemistry
  • Tetrazolium Salts / pharmacology
  • Thiazoles / pharmacology
  • Treatment Outcome

Substances

  • Biocompatible Materials
  • Contrast Media
  • Gases
  • Phospholipids
  • Tetrazolium Salts
  • Thiazoles
  • Phosphorus
  • Gadolinium
  • thiazolyl blue
  • Gadolinium DTPA