Indocyanine-green-embedded PEBBLEs as a contrast agent for photoacoustic imaging

Prostate cancer characterization by optical contrast enhanced photoacoustics

During the past decades, prostate cancer (PCa), with an annual incident rate much higher than any other cancer, is the most commonly diagnosed cancer in American men. PCa has a relatively low progression rate yet the survival percentage decreases dramatically once the cancer has metastasized. Identifying aggressive from indolent PCa to prevent metastasis and death is critical to improve outcomes for patients with PCa. Standard procedure for assessing the aggressiveness of PCa involves the removal of tumor tissues by transrectal (TR) ultrasound (US) guided needle biopsy. The microscopic architecture of the biopsied tissue is visualized by histological or immunohistochemical staining procedures. The heterogeneity of the microscopic architecture is characterized by a Gleason score, a quantitative description of the aggressiveness of PCa. Due to the inability to identify the cancer cells, most noninvasive imaging modalities can only provide diagnosis of PCa at limited accuracy. This study investigates the feasibility of identifying PCa tumors and characterizing the aggressiveness of PCa by photoacoustic imaging assisted by cancer targeting polyacrylamide (PAA) nanoparticles (NPs). PAA is a biocompatible material used in clinics for the past 20 years. PAA NPs can protect capsulated optical contrast agents from interference by enzymes and enable prolonged systematic circulation in the living biological environment. The cancer targeting mechanism is achieved by conjugating the NPs to F3 peptides, which trace nucleolin overexpressed on the surface of cancer cells. Preliminary studies have shown that the NPs are capable of staining the PCa cells in vivo.

Dual in vivo photoacoustic and fluorescence imaging of HER2 expression in breast tumors for diagnosis, margin assessment, and surgical guidance

Biomarker-specific imaging probes offer ways to improve molecular diagnosis, intraoperative margin assessment, and tumor resection. Fluorescence and photoacoustic imaging probes are of particular interest for clinical applications because the combination enables deeper tissue penetration for tumor detection while maintaining imaging sensitivity compared to a single optical imaging modality. Here we describe the development of a human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2)-targeting imaging probe to visualize differential levels of HER2 expression in a breast cancer model. Specifically, we labeled trastuzumab with Black Hole Quencher 3 (BHQ3) and fluorescein for photoacoustic and fluorescence imaging of HER2 overexpression, respectively. The dual-labeled trastuzumab was tested for its ability to detect HER2 overexpression in vitro and in vivo. We demonstrated an over twofold increase in the signal intensity for HER2-overexpressing tumors in vivo, compared to low-HER2-expressing tumors, using photoacoustic imaging. Furthermore, we demonstrated the feasibility of detecting tumors and positive surgical margins by fluorescence imaging. These results suggest that multimodal HER2-specific imaging of breast cancer using the BHQ3-fluorescein trastuzumab enables molecular-level detection and surgical margin assessment of breast tumors in vivo. This technique may have future clinical impact for primary lesion detection, as well as intraoperative molecular-level surgical guidance in breast cancer.

Chemically Modified Plastic Tube for High Volume Removal and Collection of Circulating Tumor Cells

In this preliminary effort, we use a commercially available and chemically modified tube to selectively capture circulating tumor cells (CTCs) from the blood stream by immobilizing human anti-EpCAM antibodies on the tube's interior surface. We describe the requisite and critical steps required to modify a tube into a cancer cell-capturing device. Using these simple modifications, we were able to capture or entrap about 85% of cancer cells from suspension and 44% of cancer cells from spiked whole blood. We also found that the percentage of cells captured was dependent on the tube's length and also the number of cancer cells present. It is our strong belief that with the utilization of appropriate tube lengths and procedures, we can ensure capture and removal of nearly the entire CTC population in whole blood. Importantly after a patient’s entire blood volume has circulated through the tube, the tube can then be trypsinized to release the captured live CTCs for further analysis and testing.

Ultrasmall Chitosan-Genipin Nanocarriers Fabricated from Reverse Microemulsion Process for Tumor Photothermal Therapy in Mice

Nanocarriers play an important role in improving the photo- and thermal-stability of photosensitizers to gain better pharmacokinetics behavior in tumor photothermal therapy. Herein, PEGylated chitosan (CG-PEG; PEG: polyethylene glycol) nanoparticles with ultrasmall size (∼5 nm) were prepared through a water-in-oil reverse microemulsion method using genipin as a cross-linker. Particle size and zeta-potential can be tuned by varying the molar ratio between chitosan amino groups and genipin. CG-PEG-ICG (ICG: indocyanine green) nanoparticles were fabricated by adding ICG to CG-PEG aqueous solution through a self-assembly method via electrostatic interaction. The resultant CG-PEG-ICG nanoparticles exhibited improved photo- and thermal-stability, good biocompatibility, and low toxicity. When irradiated with a laser, the cells incubated with CG-PEG-ICG nanoparticles showed very low cell viability (15%), indicating the CG-PEG-ICG nanoparticles possess high in vitro photothermal toxicity. Moreover, the CG-PEG nanocarriers can significantly alter the biodistribution and prolong the retention time of ICG in the mice body after intravenous injection. In vivo photothermal study of tumors injected with CG-PEG-ICG nanoparticles containing ICG at a concentration greater than 100 μg·mL(-1) (100 μL) induced irreversible tissue damage. The growth of U87 tumors was dramatically inhibited by CG-PEG-ICG nanoparticles, demonstrating that the CG-PEG nanoparticles may act as potential ICG nanocarriers for effective in vivo tumor photothermal therapy.

Polymer-encapsulated organic nanoparticles for fluorescence and photoacoustic imaging

Polymer encapsulated organic nanoparticles have recently attracted increasing attention in the biomedical field because of their unique optical properties, easy fabrication and outstanding performance as imaging and therapeutic agents. Of particular importance is the polymer encapsulated nanoparticles containing conjugated polymers (CP) or fluorogens with aggregation induced emission (AIE) characteristics as the core, which have shown significant advantages in terms of tunable brightness, superb photo- and physical stability, good biocompatibility, potential biodegradability and facile surface functionalization. In this review, we summarize the latest advances in the development of polymer encapsulated CP and AIE fluorogen nanoparticles, including preparation methods, material design and matrix selection, nanoparticle fabrication and surface functionalization for fluorescence and photoacoustic imaging. We also discuss their specific applications in cell labeling, targeted in vitro and in vivo imaging, blood vessel imaging, cell tracing, inflammation monitoring and molecular imaging. We specially focus on strategies to fine-tune the nanoparticle property (e.g. size and fluorescence quantum yield) through precise engineering of the organic cores and careful selection of polymer matrices. The review also highlights the merits and limitations of these nanoparticles as well as strategies used to overcome the limitations. The challenges and perspectives for the future development of polymer encapsulated organic nanoparticles are also discussed.

A carbohydrate-grafted nanovesicle with activatable optical and acoustic contrasts for dual modality high performance tumor imaging

Activatable molecular systems enabling precise tumor localization are valuable for complete tumor resection. Herein, we report sialic acid-capped polymeric nanovesicles encapsulating the near infrared profluorophore (pNIR@P@SA) for lysosome activation based dual modality tumor imaging. The probe features surface-anchored sialic acid for tumor targeting and a core of near infrared profluorophore (pNIR) which undergoes lysosomal acidity triggered isomerization to give optical and optoacoustic signals upon cell internalization. Imaging studies reveal high-efficiency uptake and signal activation of pNIR@P@SA in subcutaneous tumors and millimeter-sized liver tumor foci in mice. The high tumor-to-healthy organ signal contrasts and discernment of tiny liver tumors from normal liver tissues validate the potential of pNIR@P@SA for high performance optical and optoacoustic imaging guided tumor resection.

Gold nanoparticles for photoacoustic imaging

Photoacoustic (PA) imaging is a biomedical imaging modality that provides functional information regarding the cellular and molecular signatures of tissue by using endogenous and exogenous contrast agents. There has been tremendous effort devoted to the development of PA imaging agents, and gold nanoparticles as exogenous contrast agents have great potential for PA imaging due to their inherent and geometrically induced optical properties. The gold-based nanoparticles that are most commonly employed for PA imaging include spheres, rods, shells, prisms, cages, stars and vesicles. This article provides an overview of the current state of research in utilizing these gold nanomaterials for PA imaging of cancer, atherosclerotic plaques, brain function and image-guided therapy.

Contrast agents for photoacoustic and thermoacoustic imaging: a review

Photoacoustic imaging (PAI) and thermoacoustic imaging (TAI) are two emerging biomedical imaging techniques that both utilize ultrasonic signals as an information carrier. Unique advantages of PAI and TAI are their abilities to provide high resolution functional information such as hemoglobin and blood oxygenation and tissue dielectric properties relevant to physiology and pathology. These two methods, however, may have a limited detection depth and lack of endogenous contrast. An exogenous contrast agent is often needed to effectively resolve these problems. Such agents are able to greatly enhance the imaging contrast and potentially break through the imaging depth limit. Furthermore, a receptor-targeted contrast agent could trace the molecular and cellular biological processes in tissues. Thus, photoacoustic and thermoacoustic molecular imaging can be outstanding tools for early diagnosis, precise lesion localization, and molecular typing of various diseases. The agents also could be used for therapy in conjugation with drugs or in photothermal therapy, where it functions as an enhancer for the integration of diagnosis and therapy. In this article, we present a detailed review about various exogenous contrast agents for photoacoustic and thermoacoustic molecular imaging. In addition, challenges and future directions of photoacoustic and thermoacoustic molecular imaging in the field of translational medicine are also discussed.

Targeted nanotechnology for cancer imaging

Targeted nanoparticle imaging agents provide many benefits and new opportunities to facilitate accurate diagnosis of cancer and significantly impact patient outcome. Due to the highly engineerable nature of nanotechnology, targeted nanoparticles exhibit significant advantages including increased contrast sensitivity, binding avidity and targeting specificity. Considering the various nanoparticle designs and their adjustable ability to target a specific site and generate detectable signals, nanoparticles can be optimally designed in terms of biophysical interactions (i.e., intravascular and interstitial transport) and biochemical interactions (i.e., targeting avidity towards cancer-related biomarkers) for site-specific detection of very distinct microenvironments. This review seeks to illustrate that the design of a nanoparticle dictates its in vivo journey and targeting of hard-to-reach cancer sites, facilitating early and accurate diagnosis and interrogation of the most aggressive forms of cancer. We will report various targeted nanoparticles for cancer imaging using X-ray computed tomography, ultrasound, magnetic resonance imaging, nuclear imaging and optical imaging. Finally, to realize the full potential of targeted nanotechnology for cancer imaging, we will describe the challenges and opportunities for the clinical translation and widespread adaptation of targeted nanoparticles imaging agents.

Cellulose Nanoparticles are a Biodegradable Photoacoustic Contrast Agent for Use in Living Mice

Molecular imaging with photoacoustic ultrasound is an emerging field that combines the spatial and temporal resolution of ultrasound with the contrast of optical imaging. However, there are few imaging agents that offer both high signal intensity and biodegradation into small molecules. Here we describe a cellulose-based nanoparticle with peak photoacoustic signal at 700 nm and an in vitro limit of detection of 6 pM (0.02 mg/mL). Doses down to 0.35 nM (1.2 mg/mL) were used to image mouse models of ovarian cancer. Most importantly, the nanoparticles were shown to biodegrade in the presence of cellulase both through a glucose assay and electron microscopy.

Development of human serum albumin conjugated with near-infrared dye for photoacoustic tumor imaging

Photoacoustic (PA) imaging has emerged as a noninvasive diagnostic method which detects ultrasonic waves thermoelastically induced by optical absorbers irradiated with laser. For tumor diagnosis, PA contrast agent has been proposed to enhance the PA effect for detecting tumors sensitively. Here, we prepared a human serum albumin (HSA) conjugated with indocyanine green (ICG) as a PA contrast agent allowing enhanced permeability and retention effect for sensitive tumor imaging. The feasibility of PA imaging with HSA-ICG to detect allografted tumors was evaluated in tumor-bearing mice. In vivo fluorescence imaging and radiolabeled biodistribution study showed that the biodistribution dramatically changed as the number of ICG bound to HSA increased, and the maximum accumulation of ICG was achieved when around three ICG molecules were loaded on an HSA. In vivo PA imaging demonstrated a tumor-selective and dose-dependent increase of PA signal intensity in mice injected with HSA-ICG (R2 = 0.88, 387% increase for HSA-ICG, 104 nmol ICG). In conclusion, HSA-ICG clearly visualized the allografted tumors with high tumor-to-background ratios having high quantitative and spatial resolution for the sensitive PA imaging of tumors. HSA-ICG could be useful as a favorable contrast agent for PA tumor imaging for the management of cancer.

Photoacoustic and ultrasound imaging using dual contrast perfluorocarbon nanodroplets triggered by laser pulses at 1064 nm

Recently, a dual photoacoustic and ultrasound contrast agent-named photoacoustic nanodroplet-has been introduced. Photoacoustic nanodroplets consist of a perfluorocarbon core, surfactant shell, and encapsulated photoabsorber. Upon pulsed laser irradiation the perfluorocarbon converts to gas, inducing a photoacoustic signal from vaporization and subsequent ultrasound contrast from the resulting gas microbubbles. In this work we synthesize nanodroplets which encapsulate gold nanorods with a peak absorption near 1064 nm. Such nanodroplets are optimal for extended photoacoustic imaging depth and contrast, safety and system cost. We characterized the nanodroplets for optical absorption, image contrast and vaporization threshold. We then imaged the particles in an ex vivo porcine tissue sample, reporting contrast enhancement in a biological environment. These 1064 nm triggerable photoacoustic nanodroplets are a robust biomedical tool to enhance image contrast at clinically relevant depths.

Preclinical evaluation of a novel cyanine dye for tumor imaging with in vivo photoacoustic imaging

Photoacoustic imaging (PA imaging or PAI) has shown great promise in the detection and monitoring of cancer. Although nanocarrier-based contrast agents have been studied for use in PAI, small molecule contrast agents are required due to their ease of preparation, costeffectiveness, and low toxicity. Here, we evaluated the usefulness of a novel cyanine dye IC7-1-Bu as a PAI contrast agent without conjugated targeting moieties for in vivo tumor imaging in a mice model. Basic PA characteristics of IC7-1-Bu were compared with indocyanine green (ICG), a Food and Drug Administration approved dye, in an aqueous solution. We evaluated the tumor accumulation profile of IC7-1-Bu and ICG by in vivo fluorescence imaging. In vivo PAI was then performed with a photoacoustic tomography system 24 and 48 h after intravenous injection of IC7-1-Bu into tumor bearing mice. IC7-1-Bu showed about a 2.3-fold higher PA signal in aqueous solution compared with that of ICG. Unlike ICG, IC7-1-Bu showed high tumor fluorescence after intravenous injection. In vivo PAI provided a tumor to background PA signal ratio of approximately 2.5 after intravenous injection of IC7-1-Bu. These results indicate that IC7-1-Bu is a promising PAI contrast agent for cancer imaging without conjugation of targeting moieties.

Antibody-based imaging of HER-2: moving into the clinic

Human epidermal growth factor receptor-2 (HER-2) mediates a number of important cellular activities, and is up-regulated in a diverse set of cancer cell lines, especially breast cancer. Accordingly, HER-2 has been regarded as a common drug target in cancer therapy. Antibodies can serve as ideal candidates for targeted tumor imaging and drug delivery, due to their inherent affinity and specificity. Advanced by the development of a wide variety of imaging techniques, antibody-based imaging of HER-2 can allow for early detection and localization of tumors, as well as monitoring of drug delivery and tissue's response to drug treatment. In this review article, antibody-based imaging of HER-2 are summarized and discussed, with an emphasis on the involved imaging methods.

A high-affinity, high-stability photoacoustic agent for imaging gastrin-releasing peptide receptor in prostate cancer

PURPOSE

To evaluate the utility of targeted photoacoustic imaging (PAI) in providing molecular information to complement intrinsic functional and anatomical details of the vasculature within prostate lesion.

EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN

We developed a PAI agent, AA3G-740, that targets gastrin-releasing peptide receptor (GRPR), found to be highly overexpressed in prostate cancer. The binding specificity of the agent was evaluated in human prostate cancer cell lines, PC3 and LNCaP, and antagonist properties determined by cell internalization and intracellular calcium mobilization studies. The imaging sensitivity was assessed for the agent itself and for the PC3 cells labeled with agent. The in vivo stability of the agent was determined in human plasma and in the blood of living mice. The in vivo binding of the agent was evaluated in PC3 prostate tumor models in mice, and was validated ex vivo by optical imaging.

RESULTS

AA3G-740 demonstrated strong and specific binding to GRPR. The sensitivity of detection in vitro indicated suitability of the agent to image very small lesions. In mice, the agent was able to bind to GRPR even in poorly vascularized tumors leading to nearly 2-fold difference in photoacoustic signal relative to the control agent.

CONCLUSIONS

The ability to image both vasculature and molecular profile outside the blood vessels gives molecular PAI a unique advantage over currently used imaging techniques. The imaging method presented here can find application both in diagnosis and in image-guided biopsy.

Ultrasound-guided photoacoustic imaging: current state and future development

Photoacoustic imaging, frequently coregistered with ultrasonic imaging, can provide functional and cellular/molecular information about tissue within the anatomical landmarks of an imaged region. This review details the fundamentals of photoacoustic imaging and its most promising imaging applications. Particular attention is paid to photoacoustic imaging's relationship with ultrasound, focusing on distinct differences and similarities between the two modalities and highlighting the mutual benefit of using both concurrently in certain preclinical and clinical applications. Much like its origins as an imaging modality were intertwined with ultrasonic imaging (namely, its acoustic transducers and hardware), the future of photoacoustic imaging-particularly in the clinical arena-similarly depends on ultrasound and its time-tested ability to provide real-time visualization of soft tissue.

Light in and sound out: emerging translational strategies for photoacoustic imaging

Photoacoustic imaging (PAI) has the potential for real-time molecular imaging at high resolution and deep inside the tissue, using nonionizing radiation and not necessarily depending on exogenous imaging agents, making this technique very promising for a range of clinical applications. The fact that PAI systems can be made portable and compatible with existing imaging technologies favors clinical translation even more. The breadth of clinical applications in which photoacoustics could play a valuable role include: noninvasive imaging of the breast, sentinel lymph nodes, skin, thyroid, eye, prostate (transrectal), and ovaries (transvaginal); minimally invasive endoscopic imaging of gastrointestinal tract, bladder, and circulating tumor cells (in vivo flow cytometry); and intraoperative imaging for assessment of tumor margins and (lymph node) metastases. In this review, we describe the basics of PAI and its recent advances in biomedical research, followed by a discussion of strategies for clinical translation of the technique.

Conjugated polymer nanoparticles for photoacoustic vascular imaging

Conjugated polymer nanoparticles with strong near infrared absorbance and high photostability have been demonstrated to be an efficient photoacoustic contrast agent for vascular imaging.

Graphene-based contrast agents for photoacoustic and thermoacoustic tomography

In this work, graphene nanoribbons and nanoplatelets were investigated as contrast agents for photoacoustic and thermoacoustic tomography (PAT and TAT). We show that oxidized single-and multi-walled graphene oxide nanoribbons (O-SWGNRs, O-MWGNRs) exhibit approximately 5-10 fold signal enhancement for PAT in comparison to blood at the wavelength of 755 nm, and approximately 10-28% signal enhancement for TAT in comparison to deionized (DI) water at 3 GHz. Oxidized graphite microparticles (O-GMPs) and exfoliated graphene oxide nanoplatelets (O-GNPs) show no significant signal enhancement for PAT, and approximately 12-29% signal enhancement for TAT. These results indicate that O-GNRs show promise as multi-modal PAT and TAT contrast agents, and that O-GNPs are suitable contrast agents for TAT.

Polymer-Protein Hydrogel Nanomatrix for Stabilization of Indocyanine Green towards Targeted Fluorescence and Photoacoustic Bio-imaging

Indocyanine green (ICG) is an optical contrast agent commonly used for a variety of imaging applications. However, certain limitations of the free dye molecule, concerning its low stability, uncontrolled aggregation and lack of targeting ability, have limited its use. Presented here is a method of embedding ICG in a novel polymer/protein hybrid nanocarrier so as to overcome the above inherent drawbacks of the free molecule. The hybrid nanocarrier consists of a non-toxic and biocompatible polyacrylamide nanoparticle (PAA NP) matrix that incorporates human serum albumin (HSA). This nanocarrier was synthesized through pre-conjugation with HSA and amine functionalized monomer, followed by polymerization using biodegradable cross-linkers, in a water-in-oil emulsion. The ICG dye is loaded into the HSA conjugated PAA nanoparticles (HSA-PAA NPs) through post-loading. Compared to the PAA polymer matrix, the presence of hydrophobic pockets in the HSA-PAA NPs further increases the chemical and physical stability of ICG. This is manifested by lowering the chemical degradation rates under physiological conditions, as well as by improving the thermal- and photo-stability of the dye. A targeting moiety, F3-Cys peptide, was attached to the surface of the NPs, for selective delivery to specific cancer cell lines. The suitability of these NPs for optical imaging applications was demonstrated by performing fluorescence imaging on a rat gliosarcoma cell line (9L). We also present the photoacoustic response of the HSA-PAA NPs, used as imaging contrast agents, in the spectral window of 700 nm to 800 nm.

Photoacoustic imaging enhanced by indocyanine green-conjugated single-wall carbon nanotubes

A photoacoustic contrast agent that is based on bis-carboxylic acid derivative of indocyanine green (ICG) covalently conjugated to single-wall carbon nanotubes (ICG/SWCNT) is presented. Covalently attaching ICG to the functionalized SWCNT provides a more robust system that delivers much more ICG to the tumor site. The detection sensitivity of the new contrast agent in a mouse tumor model is demonstrated in vivo by our custom-built photoacoustic imaging system. The summation of the photoacoustic tomography (PAT) beam envelope, referred to as the "PAT summation," is used to demonstrate the postinjection light absorption of tumor areas in ICG- and ICG/SWCNT-injected mice. It is shown that ICG is able to provide 33% enhancement at approximately 20 min peak response time with reference to the preinjection PAT level, while ICG/SWCNT provides 128% enhancement at 80 min and even higher enhancement of 196% at the end point of experiments (120 min on average). Additionally, the ICG/SWCNT enhancement was mainly observed at the tumor periphery, which was confirmed by fluorescence images of the tumor samples. This feature is highly valuable in guiding surgeons to assess tumor boundaries and dimensions in vivo and to achieve clean tumor margins to improve surgical resection of tumors.

In vivo photoacoustic therapy with cancer-targeted indocyanine green-containing nanoparticles

Aim: The objective of this work was to study the photoacoustic effect of a special nanoparticle for selective cancer cell killing both in vitro and in vivo. Materials & methods: The nanoparticles (NPs) consisting of indocyanine green (ICG), phospholipid–polyethylene glycol (PL–PEG) and folic acid (FA) were used as cancer-targeting nanoprobes. Cancer cells incubated with the ICG–PL–PEG–FA solution were exposed to laser pulses. Finally, tumors in mice were treated with photoacoustic technique. Results: High selectivity of the photoacoustic destruction of cancer cells was observed. The tumors in mice after photoacoustic treatment showed a much slower growth rate. Conclusion: The destruction of the cells was due to the photoacoustic effect originating from the NPs. The ICG–PL–PEG NP-based photoacoustic therapy would be a safe and highly efficient cancer treatment technique.

Original submitted 21 February 2012; Revised submitted 2 August 2012; Published online 10 September 2012

Photodynamic therapeutic effect of indocyanine green entrapped in polymeric nanoparticles and their anti-EGFR-conjugate in skin cancer in CD1 mice

BACKGROUND

Indocyanine green (ICG) is a promising photosensitive agent for photodynamic therapy (PDT) of tumors. Encapsulating ICG dye in polymeric nanoparticles based on PEBBLE technology forming (ICG-PEBBLE) could improve the aqueous stability of the entrapped ICG molecules. The study objective is to investigate the PDT effect of free ICG-PEBBLE and its Anti-EGFR conjugate.

METHODS

Skin squamous cell carcinoma was induced in CD1 mice by dimethylbenzanthracene (DMBA) and 12-O-tetradecanoyl-phorbol-13-acetate (TPA) followed by a PDT protocol for four weeks.

RESULTS

PDT using ICG-PEBBLE or ICG-PEBBLE-Anti-EGFR decreased skin tumor sizes. Our findings revealed that the inflammatory mediators tumor necrosis factor (TNF-α), nitric oxide (NO), cycloxygenase-2 (COX-2) and 5-lipoxygenase (5-LOX), the angiogenic mediator vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), and proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) were decreased, while apoptosis, caspase-3 and histone acetylation were induced in tumor bearing groups after PDT using both of ICG-PEBBLE or ICG-PEBBLE-Anti-EGFR.

CONCLUSION

The present study indicated the effectiveness of PDT using ICG-PEBBLE or ICG-PEBBLE-Anti-EGFR as an inhibitor modality for tumor size, apoptosis, angiogenesis and tumor inflammation. The conjugating of ICG-PEBBLE to anti-EGFR was found to be more effective in inhibiting VEGF and in increasing caspase-3 compared to free ICG-PEBBLE, but there were no other preferential PDT efficacy.

Multifunctional nanoparticles for drug delivery and molecular imaging

Recent advances in nanotechnology and growing needs in biomedical applications have driven the development of multifunctional nanoparticles. These nanoparticles, through nanocrystalline synthesis, advanced polymer processing, and coating and functionalization strategies, have the potential to integrate various functionalities, simultaneously providing (a) contrast for different imaging modalities, (b) targeted delivery of drug/gene, and (c) thermal therapies. Although still in its infancy, the field of multifunctional nanoparticles has shown great promise in emerging medical fields such as multimodal imaging, theranostics, and image-guided therapies. In this review, we summarize the techniques used in the synthesis of complex nanostructures, review the major forms of multifunctional nanoparticles that have emerged over the past few years, and provide a perceptual vision of this important field of nanomedicine.

Photodynamic nanomedicine in the treatment of solid tumors: perspectives and challenges

Photodynamic therapy (PDT) is a promising treatment strategy where activation of photosensitizer drugs with specific wavelengths of light results in energy transfer cascades that ultimately yield cytotoxic reactive oxygen species which can render apoptotic and necrotic cell death. Without light the photosensitizer drugs are minimally toxic and the photoactivating light itself is non-ionizing. Therefore, harnessing this mechanism in tumors provides a safe and novel way to selectively eradicate tumor with reduced systemic toxicity and side effects on healthy tissues. For successful PDT of solid tumors, it is necessary to ensure tumor-selective delivery of the photosensitizers, as well as, the photoactivating light and to establish dosimetric correlation of light and drug parameters to PDT-induced tumor response. To this end, the nanomedicine approach provides a promising way towards enhanced control of photosensitizer biodistribution and tumor-selective delivery. In addition, refinement of nanoparticle designs can also allow incorporation of imaging agents, light delivery components and dosimetric components. This review aims at describing the current state-of-the-art regarding nanomedicine strategies in PDT, with a comprehensive narrative of the research that has been carried out in vitro and in vivo, with a discussion of the nanoformulation design aspects and a perspective on the promise and challenges of PDT regarding successful translation into clinical application.

Photoacoustic Imaging for Cancer Detection and Staging

Cancer is one of the leading causes of death in the world. Diagnosing a cancer at its early stages of development can decrease the mortality rate significantly and reduce healthcare costs. Over the past two decades, photoacoustic imaging has seen steady growth and has demonstrated notable capabilities to detect cancerous cells and stage cancer. Furthermore, photoacoustic imaging combined with ultrasound imaging and augmented with molecular targeted contrast agents is capable of imaging cancer at the cellular and molecular level, thus opening diverse opportunities to improve diagnosis of tumors, detect circulating tumor cells and identify metastatic lymph nodes. In this paper we introduce the principles of photoacoustic imaging, and review recent developments in photoacoustic imagingas an emerging imaging modality for cancer diagnosis and staging.

Comparison of the optoacoustic signal generation efficiency of different nanoparticular contrast agents

Optoacoustic imaging represents a new modality that allows noninvasive in vivo molecular imaging with optical contrast and acoustical resolution. Whereas structural or functional imaging applications such as imaging of vasculature do not require contrast enhancing agents, nanoprobes with defined biochemical binding behavior are needed for molecular imaging tasks. Since the contrast of this modality is based on the local optical absorption coefficient, all particle or molecule types that show significant absorption cross sections in the spectral range of the laser wavelength used for signal generation are suitable contrast agents. Currently, several particle types such as gold nanospheres, nanoshells, nanorods, or polymer particles are used as optoacoustic contrast agents. These particles have specific advantages with respect to their absorption properties, or in terms of biologically relevant features (biodegradability, binding to molecular markers). In the present study, a comparative analysis of the signal generation efficiency of gold nanorods, polymeric particles, and magnetite particles using a 1064 nm Nd:YAG laser for signal generation is described.

Photodynamic therapeutic activity of indocyanine green entrapped in polymeric nanoparticles

BACKGROUND

Photodynamic therapy (PDT) is a therapeutic modality involving the use of a photosensitizer agent activated by light of appropriate wavelength to selectively destroy tumor cells. Indocyanine green (ICG) is a promising photosensitive agent for PDT of tumor cells. The main disadvantage of using ICG in PDT is the instability of ICG in aqueous solutions. Encapsulating ICG dye in a biocompatible matrix based on PEBBLE technology showed an improvement of aqueous stability comparing with free ICG dye. The main objective of this study is to investigate the photodynamic effect of ICG-ormosil PEBBLEs on two different cell lines: human breast adenocarcinoma cells (MCF-7) and hepatocellular carcinoma cells (HepG2).

METHODS

ICG-embedded ormosil PEBBLEs were synthesized based on a sol-gel process, and characterized by transmission electron microscopy and other fluorescence tests. The cell viability was evaluated by MTT and trypan blue assays. Apoptosis, necrosis, and DNA damage (comet assay), were evaluated by fluorescence microscopic tests.

RESULTS

The results declared that ICG-ormosil PEBBLEs and free ICG both have the same cytotoxic and phototoxic effect on MCF-7 and HepG2 cell lines, where the apoptotic mode of cell death is preferentially occurred in case of PDT using ICG-ormosil PEBBLEs. Both ICG and ICG-ormosil PEBBLEs induced DNA damage after laser exposure. These results would suggest that entrapping ICG in Polymeric nanoparticles forming ICG-ormosil PEBBLEs improve the aqueous stability of the photosensitizer and in the same time retain its photodynamic activity, suggesting that it is preferred to use ICG-ormosil PEBBLEs instead of free ICG dye.

Gadolinium-doped silica nanoparticles encapsulating indocyanine green for near infrared and magnetic resonance imaging

Clinical applications of the indocyanine green (ICG) dye, the only near infrared (NIR) imaging dye approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in the USA, are limited due to rapid protein binding, fast clearance, and instability in physiologically relevant conditions. Encapsulating ICG in silica particles can enhance its photostability, minimize photobleaching, increase the signal-to-noise (S/N) ratio and enable in vivo studies. Furthermore, a combined magnetic resonance (MR) and NIR imaging particulate can integrate the advantage of high-resolution 3D anatomical imaging with high-sensitivity deep-tissue in-vivo fluorescent imaging. In this report, a novel synthesis technique that can achieve these goals is presented. A reverse-microemulsion-based synthesis protocol is employed to produce 25 nm ICG-doped silica nanoparticles (NPs). The encapsulation of ICG is achieved by manipulating coulombic attractions with bivalent ions and aminated silanes and carrying out silica synthesis in salt-catalyzed, mildly basic pH conditions using dioctyl sulfosuccinate (AOT)/heptane/water microemulsion system. Furthermore, paramagnetic properties are imparted by chelating paramagnetic Gd to the ICG-doped silica NPs. Aqueous ICG-dye-doped silica NPs show increased photostability (over a week) and minimal photobleaching as compared to the dye alone. The MR and optical imaging capabilities of these particles are demonstrated through phantom, in vitro and in vivo experiments. The described particles have the potential to act as theranostic agents by combining photodynamic therapy through the absorption of NIR irradiated light.

Systematic review: the applications of nanotechnology in gastroenterology

BACKGROUND

Over the past 30 years, nanotechnology has evolved dramatically. It has captured the interest of variety of fields from computing and electronics to biology and medicine. Recent discoveries have made invaluable changes to future prospects in nanomedicine; and introduced the concept of theranostics. This term offers a patient specific 'two in one' modality that comprises of diagnostic and therapeutic tools. Not only nanotechnology has shown great impact on improvements in drug delivery and imaging techniques, but also there have been several ground-breaking discoveries in regenerative medicine.

AIM

Gastroenterology invites multidisciplinary approach owing to high complexity of gastrointestinal (GI) system; it includes physicians, surgeons, radiologists, pharmacologists and many more. In this article, we concentrate on current developments in nano-gastroenterology.

METHODS

Literature search was performed using Web of Science and Pubmed search engines with terms--nanotechnology, nanomedicine and gastroenterology. Article search was concentrated on developments since 2005.

RESULTS

We have described original and innovative approaches in gastrointestinal drug delivery, inflammatory disease and cancer-target treatments. Here, we have reviewed advances in GI imaging using nanoparticles as fluorescent contrast, and their potential for site-specific targeting. This review has also depicted various approaches and novel discoveries in GI regenerative medicine using nanomaterials for scaffold designs and induced pluripotent stem cells as cell source.

CONCLUSIONS

Developments in nanotechnology have opened new range of possibilities to help our patients. This includes novel drug delivery vehicles, diagnostic tools for early and targeted disease detection and nanocomposite materials for tissue constructs to overcome cosmetic or physical disabilities.

Family of enhanced photoacoustic imaging agents for high-sensitivity and multiplexing studies in living mice

Photoacoustic imaging is a unique modality that overcomes to a great extent the resolution and depth limitations of optical imaging while maintaining relatively high contrast. However, since many diseases will not manifest an endogenous photoacoustic contrast, it is essential to develop exogenous photoacoustic contrast agents that can target diseased tissue(s). Here we present a family of novel photoacoustic contrast agents that are based on the binding of small optical dyes to single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWNT-dye). We synthesized five different SWNT-dye contrast agents using different optical dyes, creating five "flavors" of SWNT-dye nanoparticles. In particular, SWNTs that were coated with either QSY(21) (SWNT-QSY) or indocyanine green (SWNT-ICG) exhibited over 100-times higher photoacoustic contrast in living animals compared to plain SWNTs, leading to subnanomolar sensitivities. We then conjugated the SWNT-dye conjugates with cyclic Arg-Gly-Asp peptides to molecularly target the α(v)β(3) integrin, which is associated with tumor angiogenesis. Intravenous administration of these tumor-targeted imaging agents to tumor-bearing mice showed significantly higher photoacoustic signal in the tumor than in mice injected with the untargeted contrast agent. Finally, we were able to spectrally separate the photoacoustic signals of SWNT-QSY and SWNT-ICG in living animals injected subcutaneously with both particles in the same location, opening the possibility for multiplexing in vivo studies.

A statistical model of retinal optical coherence tomography image data

Optical coherence tomography (OCT) is an important mode of biomedical imaging for the diagnosis and management of ocular disease. Here we report on the construction of a synthetic retinal OCT image data set that may be used for quantitative analysis of image processing methods. Synthetic image data were generated from statistical characteristics of real images (n = 14). Features include: multiple stratified layers with representative thickness, boundary gradients, contour, and intensity distributions derived from real data. The synthetic data also include retinal vasculature with typical signal obscuration beneath vessels. This synthetic retinal image can provide a realistic simulated data set to help quantify the performance of image processing algorithms.

Biomedical applications of photoacoustic imaging with exogenous contrast agents

Photoacoustic imaging is a biomedical imaging modality that provides functional information, and, with the help of exogenous contrast agents, cellular and molecular signatures of tissue. In this article, we review the biomedical applications of photoacoustic imaging assisted with exogenous contrast agents. Dyes, noble metal nanoparticles, and other constructs are contrast agents which absorb strongly in the near-infrared band of the optical spectrum and generate strong photoacoustic response. These contrast agents, which can be specifically targeted to molecules or cells, have been coupled with photoacoustic imaging for preclinical and clinical applications ranging from detection of cancer cells, sentinel lymph nodes, and micrometastasis to angiogenesis to characterization of atherosclerotic plaques. Multi-functional agents have also been developed, which can carry drugs or simultaneously provide contrast in multiple imaging modalities. Furthermore, contrast agents were used to guide and monitor the therapeutic procedures. Overall, photoacoustic imaging shows significant promise in its ability to assist in diagnosis, therapy planning, and monitoring of treatment outcome for cancer, cardiovascular disease, and other pathologies.

Tissue-mimicking phantoms for photoacoustic and ultrasonic imaging

In both photoacoustic (PA) and ultrasonic (US) imaging, overall image quality is influenced by the optical and acoustical properties of the medium. Consequently, with the increased use of combined PA and US (PAUS) imaging in preclinical and clinical applications, the ability to provide phantoms that are capable of mimicking desired properties of soft tissues is critical. To this end, gelatin-based phantoms were constructed with various additives to provide realistic acoustic and optical properties. Forty-micron, spherical silica particles were used to induce acoustic scattering, Intralipid(®) 20% IV fat emulsion was employed to enhance optical scattering and ultrasonic attenuation, while India Ink, Direct Red 81, and Evans blue dyes were utilized to achieve optical absorption typical of soft tissues. The following parameters were then measured in each phantom formulation: speed of sound, acoustic attenuation (from 6 to 22 MHz), acoustic backscatter coefficient (from 6 to 22 MHz), optical absorption (from 400 nm to 1300 nm), and optical scattering (from 400 nm to 1300 nm). Results from these measurements were then compared to similar measurements, which are offered by the literature, for various soft tissue types. Based on these comparisons, it was shown that a reasonably accurate tissue-mimicking phantom could be constructed using a gelatin base with the aforementioned additives. Thus, it is possible to construct a phantom that mimics specific tissue acoustical and/or optical properties for the purpose of PAUS imaging studies.

Photoacoustic imaging

Photoacoustic imaging, which is based on the photoacoustic effect, has developed extensively over the last decade. Possessing many attractive characteristics such as the use of nonionizing electromagnetic waves, good resolution and contrast, portable instrumention, and the ability to partially quantitate the signal, photoacoustic techniques have been applied to the imaging of cancer, wound healing, disorders in the brain, and gene expression, among others. As a promising structural, functional, and molecular imaging modality for a wide range of biomedical applications, photoacoustic imaging can be categorized into two types of systems: photoacoustic tomography (PAT), which is the focus of this article, and photoacoustic microscopy (PAM). We first briefly describe the endogenous (e.g., hemoglobin and melanin) and the exogenous (e.g., indocyanine green [ICG], various gold nanoparticles, single-walled carbon nanotubes [SWNTs], quantum dots [QDs], and fluorescent proteins) contrast agents for photoacoustic imaging. Next, we discuss in detail the applications of nontargeted photoacoustic imaging. Recently, molecular photoacoustic (MPA) imaging has gained significant interest, and a few proof-of-principle studies have been reported. We summarize the current state of the art of MPA imaging, including the imaging of gene expression and the combination of photoacoustic imaging with other imaging modalities. Last, we point out obstacles facing photoacoustic imaging. Although photoacoustic imaging will likely continue to be a highly vibrant research field for years to come, the key question of whether MPA imaging could provide significant advantages over nontargeted photoacoustic imaging remains to be answered in the future.

Drug delivery monitoring by photoacoustic tomography with an ICG encapsulated double emulsion

The absorption spectrum of indocyanine green (ICG), a nontoxic dye used for medical diagnostics, depends upon its concentration as well as the nature of its environment, i.e., the solvent medium into which it is dissolved. In blood, ICG binds with plasma proteins, thus causing changes in its photoacoustic spectrum. We successfully encapsulated ICG in an ultrasound-triggerable perfluorocarbon double emulsion that prevents ICG from binding with plasma proteins. Photoacoustic spectral measurements on point target as well as 2-D photoacoustic images of blood vessels revealed that the photoacoustic spectrum changes significantly in blood when the ICG-loaded emulsion undergoes acoustic droplet vaporization (ADV), which is the conversion of liquid droplets into gas bubbles using ultrasound. We propose that these changes in the photoacoustic spectrum of the ICG emulsion in blood, coupled with photoacoustic tomography, could be used to spatially and quantitatively monitor ultrasound initiated drug delivery. In addition, we suggest that the photoacoustic spectral change induced by ultrasound exposure could also be used as contrast in photoacoustic imaging to obtain a background free image.

Near-infrared dye-loaded PLGA nanoparticles prepared by spray drying for photoacoustic applications

INTRODUCTION

Nanoparticulate contrast agents are of great interest for diagnostic applications with high resolution in medicine. Here we present polymer-based degradable nanoparticles exhibiting a near infrared (NIR) absorption suitable for photoacoustic imaging.

METHODS

The nanoparticles were prepared by incorporation of indocyanine green (ICG) as NIR dye in poly[(rac-lactide)-co-glycolide] (PLGA) via an optimized spray drying process. By application of a multi-step centrifugation protocol, two different size fractions were achieved. The biocompatibitilty of the nanoparticles was tested in 2D cell cultures (human hepatocarcinoma cells and monkey kidney cells) using WST-1, BrdU and LDH assay.

RESULTS

Spherical particles were obtained with a good yield (>81%), showing a high NIR-dye encapsulation efficiency (>98%). By multi-step centrifugation, two different size fractions with a mean diameter of 640 nm and 390 nm were obtained. Cytotoxicity studies of the synthesized ICG-loaded PLGA particles were performed. No cytotoxic effect on metabolic activity, proliferation, or membrane integrity was observed.

CONCLUSION

The high optical absorption at the relevant NIR-wavelength around 800 nm in combination with absence of cytotoxicity qualifies the ICG-loaded PLGA particles as promising candidates for degradable photoacoustic contrast agents.

Selective imaging and killing of cancer cells with protein-activated near-infrared fluorescing nanoparticles

We present a general approach for the selective imaging and killing of cancer cells using protein-activated near-infrared emitting and cytotoxic oxygen generating nanoparticles. Poly(propargyl acrylate) (PA) particles were surface modified through the copper-catalyzed azide/alkyne cycloaddition of azide-terminated indocyanine green (azICG), a near-infrared emitter, and poly(ethylene glycol) (azPEG) chains of various molecular weights. The placement of azICG onto the surface of the particles allowed for the chromophores to complex with bovine serum albumin when dispersed in PBS that resulted in an enhancement of the dye emission. In addition, the inclusion of azPEG with the chromophores onto the particle surface resulted in a synergistic ninefold enhancement of the fluorescence intensity, with azPEGs of increasing molecular weight amplifying the response. Human liver carcinoma cells (HepG2) overexpress albumin proteins and could be employed to activate the fluorescence of the nanoparticles. Preliminary PDT studies with HepG2 cells combined with the modified particles indicated that a minor exposure of 780 nm radiation resulted in a statistically significant reduction in cell growth.

Antitumor necrosis factor-α antibody-coupled gold nanorods as nanoprobes for molecular optoacoustic imaging in arthritis

Optoacoustic molecular imaging can provide spatially resolved information about the presence of molecular markers in vivo. We synthesized elongated gold nanorods having an absorption maximum in the range of 1064 nm modified with the antibodies infliximab and certolizumab for targeting TNF-α to detect inflammation in arthritic mouse knees. We showed an differential enhancement of optoacoustic signal amplitudes after the injection of infliximab-, but not certolizumab-modified and PEGylated control particles on arthritic and healthy control mice by using a fast-scanning optoacoustic imaging platform based on a pulsed Nd:YAG laser and a single focused ultrasound transducer. The excellent photoacoustic properties of the gold nanorods confirmed the overexpression of TNF-α in arthritic knees. Due to the uncomplicated coupling chemistry and the scalability of ultrasound-based imaging approaches, these results potentially allow a transfer to various preclinical and clinical applications. From the Clinical Editor: Gold nanorods were modified with TNF-α targeting antibodies and used to detect inflammation in arthritic mouse knees via optoaoustic imaging. A fast-scanning optoacoustic imaging platform based on a pulsed Nd:YAG laser and a single focused ultrasound transducer was utilized for imaging. The excellent photoacoustic properties of these gold nanorods confirmed the overexpression of TNF-α, paving the way towards further preclinical and future clinical applications.

Photoacoustic imaging in cancer detection, diagnosis, and treatment guidance

Imaging modalities play an important role in the clinical management of cancer, including screening, diagnosis, treatment planning and therapy monitoring. Owing to increased research efforts during the past two decades, photoacoustic imaging (a non-ionizing, noninvasive technique capable of visualizing optical absorption properties of tissue at reasonable depth, with the spatial resolution of ultrasound) has emerged. Ultrasound-guided photoacoustics is noted for its ability to provide in vivo morphological and functional information about the tumor within the surrounding tissue. With the recent advent of targeted contrast agents, photoacoustics is now also capable of in vivo molecular imaging, thus facilitating further molecular and cellular characterization of cancer. This review examines the role of photoacoustics and photoacoustic-augmented imaging techniques in comprehensive cancer detection, diagnosis and treatment guidance.

Effect of polyethylene glycol coatings on uptake of indocyanine green loaded nanocapsules by human spleen macrophages in vitro

Near-infrared (NIR) optically active nanoparticles are promising exogenous chromophores for applications in medical imaging and phototherapy. Since nanoparticles can be rapidly eliminated from the body by cells of the reticuloendothelial system, a thriving strategy to increase their blood circulation time is through surface modification with polyethylene glycol (PEG). We constructed polymeric nanocapsules loaded with indocyanine green (ICG), an FDA-approved NIR dye, and coated with aldehyde-terminated PEG. Using optical absorbance spectroscopy and flow cytometry, we investigated the effect of PEG coating and molecular weight (MW) of PEG [5000 and 30,000 Daltons (Da)] on the phagocytic content of human spleen macrophages incubated with ICG-containing nanocapsules (ICG-NCs) between 15 to 360 min. Our results indicate that surface coating with PEG is an effective method to reduce the phagocytic content of ICG-NCs within macrophages for at least up to 360 min of incubation time. Coating the surface of ICG-NCs with the low MW PEG results in lower phagocytic content of ICG-NCs within macrophages for at least up to 60 min of incubation time as compared to ICG-NCs coated with the high MW PEG. Surface coating of ICG-NCs with PEG is a promising approach to prolong vasculature circulation time of ICG for NIR imaging and phototherapeutic applications.