Fluorescence imaging analysis of distribution of indocyanine green in molecular and nanoform in tumor model

Tailoring Indocyanine Green J-Aggregates for Imaging, Cancer Phototherapy, and Drug Delivery: A Review

Indocyanine green J-aggregates (ICG-Jagg) have emerged as a significant subject of interest in biomedical applications due to their unique optical properties, tunable size, and excellent biocompatibility. This comprehensive review aims to provide an in-depth exploration of ICG-Jagg, with a focus on elucidating the diverse facets of their preparation and the factors that influence the preparation process. Additionally, the review discusses their applications in biomedical diagnostics, such as imaging and contrast agents, as well as their utilization in drug delivery and various phototherapeutic interventions.

Indocyanine green J-aggregate (IJA) theranostics: Challenges and opportunities

Indocyanine green is an FDA-approved fluorescent imaging dye used for determining cardiac output, hepatic function, liver blood flow, and retinal perfusion. It has been investigated preclinically in photoacoustic imaging and photothermal therapy (PTT); however, ICG photodegradation limits its biomedical applications. An aggregated form of ICG, known as J-aggregate (IJA), exhibits superior photoacoustic signals and thermal stability than the monomeric ICG. Nevertheless, IJA still suffers from low stability in the biological milieu, and short in vivo blood circulation. To address these limitations, a range of nanocarriers have been developed to enhance IJA stability and performance. This review focuses on IJA potentials and limitations, besides the recent development of IJA-loaded nanocarriers, particularly for cancer imaging and therapy.

Visualization of Blood-Brain Barrier Disruption in Septic Mice with the New Method Based on in Vivo Imaging Technology

BACKGROUND

Dynamic monitoring of the blood-brain barrier (BBB) functional status in septic mice can help to explore the pathological mechanisms. Therefore, we proposed a new method for monitoring BBB permeability and applied it to the detection of sepsis models.

METHODS

The new method involves the construction of an optical cranial window and in vivo imaging. We performed dynamic monitoring of BBB permeability and cerebral blood flow (CBF) in cecal ligation puncture (CLP) and endotoxemia (lipopolysaccharide [LPS]) mice.

RESULTS

The sensitivity and accuracy of this method were higher than those of Evans blue evaluation. The increase of BBB permeability in the group of CLP mice was relatively mild and correlated with overall survival, and the damage was irreversible. Contrarily, BBB damage in the LPS group was more acute and severe, unrelated to overall survival, but recoverable. The CBF decreased significantly in both model mouse groups 24 h after modeling, but only the CBF proportion decrease in the LPS group was significantly correlated with an increase in BBB permeability. Within 24 h after both models were established, the decrease in blood flow in the digestive organs occurred earlier than in the brain and kidneys, and the decrease in small intestine blood flow in the LPS group progressed faster.

CONCLUSIONS

We have successfully demonstrated the feasibility of our novel method to detect BBB permeability in mice. Our results revealed a significant difference in the BBB permeability change trend between the CLP and LPS model mice when survival curves were consistent. Notably, the CLP-model mice demonstrated a closer resemblance to clinical patients. Our findings suggest that early-stage brain tissue hypoperfusion has a greater impact on BBB function damage in endotoxemia mice, which is related to the faster progression of blood flow redistribution.

Antibody-Conjugated Polymersomes with Encapsulated Indocyanine Green J-Aggregates and High Near-Infrared Absorption for Molecular Photoacoustic Cancer Imaging

Imaging plays a critical role in all stages of cancer care from early detection to diagnosis, prognosis, and therapy monitoring. Recently, photoacoustic imaging (PAI) has started to emerge into the clinical realm due to its high sensitivity and ability to penetrate tissues up to several centimeters deep. Herein, we encapsulated indocyanine green J (ICGJ) aggregate, one of the only FDA-approved organic exogenous contrast agents that absorbs in the near-infrared range, at high loadings up to ∼40% w/w within biodegradable polymersomes (ICGJ-Ps) composed of poly(lactide-co-glycolide-b-polyethylene glycol) (PLGA-b-PEG). The small Ps hydrodynamic diameter of 80 nm is advantageous for in vivo applications, while directional conjugation with epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) targeting cetuximab antibodies renders molecular specificity. Even when exposed to serum, the ∼11 nm-thick membrane of the Ps prevents dissociation of the encapsulated ICGJ for at least 48 h with a high ratio of ICGJ to monomeric ICG absorbances (i.e., I895/I780 ratio) of approximately 5.0 that enables generation of a strong NIR photoacoustic (PA) signal. The PA signal of polymersome-labeled breast cancer cells is proportional to the level of cellular EGFR expression, indicating the feasibility of molecular PAI with antibody-conjugated ICGJ-Ps. Furthermore, the labeled cells were successfully detected with PAI in highly turbid tissue-mimicking phantoms up to a depth of 5 mm with the PA signal proportional to the amount of cells. These data show the potential of molecular PAI with ICGJ-Ps for clinical applications such as tumor margin detection, evaluation of lymph nodes for the presence of micrometastasis, and laparoscopic imaging procedures.

Medical Applications and Advancement of Near Infrared Photosensitive Indocyanine Green Molecules

Indocyanine green (ICG) is an important kind of near infrared (NIR) photosensitive molecules for PTT/PDT therapy as well as imaging. When exposed to NIR light, ICG can produce reactive oxygen species (ROS), which can kill cancer cells and pathogenic bacteria. Moreover, the absorbed light can also be converted into heat by ICG molecules to eliminate cancer cells. In addition, it performs exceptionally well in optical imaging-guided tumor therapy and antimicrobial therapy due to its deeper tissue penetration and low photobleaching properties in the near-infrared region compared to other dyes. In order to solve the problems of water and optical stability and multi-function problem of ICG molecules, composite nanomaterials based on ICG have been designed and widely used, especially in the fields of tumors and sterilization. So far, ICG molecules and their composite materials have become one of the most famous infrared sensitive materials. However, there have been no corresponding review articles focused on ICG molecules. In this review, the molecular structure and properties of ICG, composite material design, and near-infrared light- triggered anti-tumor, and antibacterial, and clinical applications are reviewed in detail, which of great significance for related research.

Combinatorial Polydopamine-Liposome Nanoformulation as an Effective Anti-Breast Cancer Therapy

Introduction

Drug delivery systems (DDSs) based on liposomes are potential tools to minimize the side effects and substantially enhance the therapeutic efficacy of chemotherapy. However, it is challenging to achieve biosafe, accurate, and efficient cancer therapy of liposomes with single function or single mechanism. To solve this problem, we designed a multifunctional and multimechanism nanoplatform based on polydopamine (PDA)-coated liposomes for accurate and efficient combinatorial cancer therapy of chemotherapy and laser-induced PDT/PTT.

Methods

ICG and DOX were co-incorporated in polyethylene glycol modified liposomes, which were further coated with PDA by a facile two-step method to construct PDA-liposome nanoparticles (PDA@Lipo/DOX/ICG). The safety of nanocarriers was investigated on normal HEK-293 cells, and the cellular uptake, intracellular ROS production capacity, and combinatorial treatment effect of the nanoparticles were assessed on human breast cancer cells MDA-MB-231. In vivo biodistribution, thermal imaging, biosafety assessment, and combination therapy effects were estimated based on MDA-MB-231 subcutaneous tumor model.

Results

Compared with DOX·HCl and Lipo/DOX/ICG, PDA@Lipo/DOX/ICG showed higher toxicity on MDA-MB-231 cells. After endocytosis by target cells, PDA@Lipo/DOX/ICG produced a large amount of ROS for PDT by 808 nm laser irradiation, and the cell inhibition rate of combination therapy reached up to 80.4%. After the tail vein injection (DOX equivalent of 2.5 mg/kg) in mice bearing MDA-MB-231 tumors, PDA@Lipo/DOX/ICG significantly accumulated at the tumor site at 24 h post injection. After 808 nm laser irradiation (1.0 W/cm², 2 min) at this timepoint, PDA@Lipo/DOX/ICG efficiently suppressed the proliferation of MDA-MB-231 cell and even thoroughly ablated tumors. Negligible cardiotoxicity and no treatment-induced side effects were observed.

Conclusion

PDA@Lipo/DOX/ICG is a multifunctional nanoplatform based on PDA-coated liposomes for accurate and efficient combinatorial cancer therapy of chemotherapy and laser-induced PDT/PTT.

Correlation of spectroscopic and structural properties of indocyanine green j-aggregates

Indocyanine green (ICG), when in free form in a liquid, can form stable nanoparticle structures or colloidal solution, while changing its spectroscopic properties. In the work, the aggregation degree and the average size of nanoparticles depending on the concentration of a colloidal solution of indocyanine green (ICG NPs) in the form of J-aggregates were investigated by various methods based on light scattering. The size of nanoparticles is an important parameter from the point of view of clinical application, because the technique of intravenous administration of drugs, in order to avoid microvascular thrombosis and embolism, provides dosage forms with inclusions of individual molecules or their clusters, not exceeding 500 nm diameter. In turn, small nanoparticles less than 30 nm lead to prolonged circulation of the drug in the body with an increased possibility of permeation into cells of healthy tissue. In the course of studies, it was found that an increase in the concentration of ICG NPs in the solution leads to an increase in the average size of spontaneously formed J-aggregates, which, in turn, leads to a decrease in the absorption coefficient in the aggregates. Presumably, this phenomenon, i.e. the established nonlinear dependence of the J-aggregate absorption on its size, can be explained by the formation of absorption centers on the J-aggregate surface in the form of mobile surface molecules. The threshold range of ICG molecule concentration was determined, at which there is a transition from aggregation with an increase in size with a slow addition of ICG J-aggregate molecules in height to a rapid addition in width.

NIR-II imaging with ICG for identifying perforators, assessing flap status and predicting division timing of pedicled flaps in a porcine model

The use of skin flaps to fill large defects is a key surgical technique in reconstructive surgery, effective real-time in vivo imaging for flap design and use is urgent. Currently, fluorescent imaging in the second NIR window (NIR-II; 1000-1700 nm) is characterized by non-radiation, less expensive and higher resolution in comparisons with the first NIR window (NIR-I; 700-900 nm) and other traditional imaging modalities. In this article, we identified the location and numbers of perforators and choke zone via NIR-II imaging. Then, eight abdominal perforator flaps were established and the perfusion zones were evaluatedat special time points. Finally, after eight pedicled flaps establishment, NIR-II imaging was used to guide the optimal timing for division of flap pedicle. The results showed that NIR-II fluorescence imaging with indocyanine green (ICG) can reliably visualize vascular supply, which makes it to be an accurate and in vivo imaging approach to flap clinical design and use.

Analysis of Fluorescence Decay Kinetics of Indocyanine Green Monomers and Aggregates in Brain Tumor Model In Vivo

Spectroscopic approach with fluorescence time resolution allows one to determine the state of a brain tumor and its microenvironment via changes in the fluorescent dye's fluorescence lifetime. Indocyanine green (ICG) is an acknowledged infra-red fluorescent dye that self-assembles into stable aggregate forms (ICG NPs). ICG NPs aggregates have a tendency to accumulate in the tumor with a maximum accumulation at 24 h after systemic administration, enabling extended intraoperative diagnostic. Fluorescence lifetime analysis of ICG and ICG NPs demonstrates different values for ICG monomers and H-aggregates, indicating promising suitability for fluorescent diagnostics of brain tumors due to their affinity to tumor cells and stability in biological tissue.