Synthesis and Testing of Modular Dual-Modality Nanoparticles for Magnetic Resonance and Multispectral Photoacoustic Imaging

Multimodal optoacoustic imaging: methods and contrast materials

Optoacoustic (OA) imaging offers powerful capabilities for interrogating biological tissues with rich optical absorption contrast while maintaining high spatial resolution for deep tissue observations. The spectrally distinct absorption of visible and near-infrared photons by endogenous tissue chromophores facilitates extraction of diverse anatomic, functional, molecular, and metabolic information from living tissues across various scales, from organelles and cells to whole organs and organisms. The primarily blood-related contrast and limited penetration depth of OA imaging have fostered the development of multimodal approaches to fully exploit the unique advantages and complementarity of the method. We review the recent hybridization efforts, including multimodal combinations of OA with ultrasound, fluorescence, optical coherence tomography, Raman scattering microscopy and magnetic resonance imaging as well as ionizing methods, such as X-ray computed tomography, single-photon-emission computed tomography and positron emission tomography. Considering that most molecules absorb light across a broad range of the electromagnetic spectrum, the OA interrogations can be extended to a large number of exogenously administered small molecules, particulate agents, and genetically encoded labels. This unique property further makes contrast moieties used in other imaging modalities amenable for OA sensing.

Recent advances in engineering iron oxide nanoparticles for effective magnetic resonance imaging

Iron oxide nanoparticle (IONP) with unique magnetic property and high biocompatibility have been widely used as magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) contrast agent (CA) for long time. However, a review which comprehensively summarizes the recent development of IONP as traditional T₂ CA and its new application for different modality of MRI, such as T₁ imaging, simultaneous T₂/T₁ or MRI/other imaging modality, and as environment responsive CA is rare. This review starts with an investigation of direction on the development of high-performance MRI CA in both T₂ and T₁ modal based on quantum mechanical outer sphere and Solomon–Bloembergen–Morgan (SBM) theory. Recent rational attempts to increase the MRI contrast of IONP by adjusting the key parameters, including magnetization, size, effective radius, inhomogeneity of surrounding generated magnetic field, crystal phase, coordination number of water, electronic relaxation time, and surface modification are summarized. Besides the strategies to improve r₂ or r₁ values, strategies to increase the in vivo contrast efficiency of IONP have been reviewed from three different aspects, those are introducing second imaging modality to increase the imaging accuracy, endowing IONP with environment response capacity to elevate the signal difference between lesion and normal tissue, and optimizing the interface structure to improve the accumulation amount of IONP in lesion. This detailed review provides a deep understanding of recent researches on the development of high-performance IONP based MRI CAs. It is hoped to trigger deep thinking for design of next generation MRI CAs for early and accurate diagnosis.

•

T₂ contrast capacity of iron oxide nanoparticles (IONPs) could be improved based on quantum mechanical outer sphere theory.

•

IONPs could be expand to be used as effective T₁ CAs by improving q value, extending τ_s, and optimizing interface structure.

•

Environment responsive MRI CAs have been developed to improve the diagnosis accuracy.

•

Introducing other imaging contrast moiety into IONPs could increase the contrast efficiency.

•

Optimizing in vivo behavior of IONPs have been proved to enlarge the signal difference between normal tissue and lesion.

Biodegradable Protein-Stabilized Inorganic Nanoassemblies for Photothermal Radiotherapy of Hepatoma Cells

Inorganic nanomaterials require optimal engineering to retain their functionality yet can also biodegrade within physiological conditions to avoid chronic accumulation in their native form. In this work, we have developed gelatin-stabilized iron oxide nanoclusters having a primary crystallite size of ∼10 nm and surface-functionalized with indocyanine green (ICG)-bound albumin-stabilized gold nanoclusters (Prot-IONs). The Prot-IONs are designed to undergo disintegration in an acidic microenvironment of tumor in the presence of proteolytic enzymes within 72 h. These nanoassemblies demonstrate bio- and hemocompatibility and show significant photothermal efficiency due to strong near infrared absorption contributed by ICG. The surface gold nanoclusters could efficiently sensitize hepatoma cells to γ-irradiation with substantial cytoskeletal and nuclear damage. Sequential irradiation of Prot-ION-treated cancer cells with near infrared (NIR) laser (λ = 750 nm) and γ-irradiation could cause ∼90% cell death compared to single treatment groups at a lower dose of nanoparticles. The superparamagnetic nature of Prot-IONs imparted significant relaxivity (∼225 mM^-1 s^-1) for T₂-weighted magnetic resonance imaging. Additionally, they could also be engaged as photoacoustic and NIR imaging contrast agents. This work demonstrates bioeliminable inorganic nanoassemblies with significant theranostic potential.

Dual-Modal FexCuySe and Upconversion Nanoparticle Assemblies for Intracellular MicroRNA-21 Detection

In situ quantification and imaging of low-level intracellular microRNAs (miRs) are important areas in biosensor research. Herein, DNA-driven Fe_xCu_ySe@upconversion nanoparticle (UCNP) core@satellite nanostructures were developed to probe microRNA-21 (miR-21). Fe_xCu_ySe@UCNP probes displayed dual signals: upconversion luminescence (UCL) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). In the presence of miR-21, the luminescence signal was restored and the T₂ value was significantly increased because of dissociation of UCNPs from the assemblies. There was a good linear relationship between the dual signals and the expression levels of miR-21 in the range of 0.035-31.824 amol/ng_RNA. The limit of detection (LOD) was 0.0058 amol/ng_RNA for the luminescence intensity and 0.0182 amol/ng_RNA for the MRI signal. This method opens a new avenue for intracellular miR-21 detection with high sensitivity and specificity.

Ellagic acid-Fe nanoscale coordination polymer with higher longitudinal relaxivity for dual-modality T1-weighted magnetic resonance and photoacoustic tumor imaging

Dual-modality contrast agents for T₁-weighted magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and photoacoustic imaging have attracted substantial attention as they combine the advantages of unlimited penetration depth and high sensitivity. However, most of the reported agents are Gd-based materials that exhibit nephrotoxicity, and few studies have focused on Fe-based materials owing to their lower relaxivity. This work describes the development of an ellagic acid (EA)-Fe nanoscale coordination polymer with high longitudinal relaxivity and strong near-infrared absorption for dual-modality T₁-weighted MRI and photoacoustic imaging. The longitudinal relaxivity (r₁) of the prepared EA-Fe@BSA nanoparticles was 2.54 mM^-1 s^-1, an increase of 185% compared with previously reported gallic acid-Fe nanoparticles. Furthermore, in vitro and in vivo experiments demonstrate that the EA-Fe@BSA NPs are an excellent T₁-weighted MRI and photoacoustic dual-modality contrast agent with the advantages of convenient synthesis and low toxicity, exhibiting great potential for clinical use in tumor imaging.

Nanoparticle architecture preserves magnetic properties during coating to enable robust multi-modal functionality

Magnetic iron oxide nanoparticles (MIONs) have established a niche as a nanomedicine platform for diagnosis and therapy, but they present a challenging surface for ligand functionalization which limits their applications. On the other hand, coating MIONs with another material such as gold to enhance these attachments introduces other complications. Incomplete coating may expose portions of the iron oxide core, or the coating process may alter their magnetic properties. We describe synthesis and characterization of iron oxide/silica/gold core-shell nanoparticles to elucidate the effects of a silica-gold coating process and its impact on the resulting performance. In particular, small angle neutron scattering reveals silica intercalates between iron oxide crystallites that form the dense core, likely preserving the magnetic properties while enabling formation of a continuous gold shell. The synthesized silica-gold-coated MIONs demonstrate magnetic heating properties consistent with the original iron oxide core, with added x-ray contrast for imaging and laser heating.

A dual modal silver bumpy nanoprobe for photoacoustic imaging and SERS multiplexed identification of in vivo lymph nodes

Multimodal imaging can provide complementary biomedical information which has huge potential in pre-clinical and clinical imaging and sensing. In this study, we introduce dual modal NIR silver bumpy nanoprobes for in vivo imaging and multiplexed detection of biomolecules by both photoacoustic imaging (PAI) and surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) techniques. For this study, we used silica-coated silver bumpy nanoshell probes (AgNS@SiO₂). AgNS@SiO₂ have strong NIR-absorption and scattering properties compared with other nanostructures, and therefore, can be a good candidate for photoacoustic (PA) and SERS multimodal imaging. We obtained PA images of the skin and SLNs of rats by injecting various kinds of Raman-labeled AgNS@SiO₂. Multiplexed identification of the injected AgNS@SiO₂ was achieved by measuring SERS signals. AgNS@SiO₂ have the potential to be applied in detecting cancer biomarkers by locating biomarkers quickly using PA imaging, and identification by multiplexed target measurement using SERS signals in vivo.

Molecular Imaging in Nanotechnology and Theranostics

The fields of biomedical nanotechnology and theranostics have enjoyed exponential growth in recent years. The "Molecular Imaging in Nanotechnology and Theranostics" (MINT) Interest Group of the World Molecular Imaging Society (WMIS) was created in order to provide a more organized and focused forum on these topics within the WMIS and at the World Molecular Imaging Conference (WMIC). The interest group was founded in 2015 and was officially inaugurated during the 2016 WMIC. The overarching goal of MINT is to bring together the many scientists who work on molecular imaging approaches using nanotechnology and those that work on theranostic agents. MINT therefore represents scientists, labs, and institutes that are very diverse in their scientific backgrounds and areas of expertise, reflecting the wide array of materials and approaches that drive these fields. In this short review, we attempt to provide a condensed overview over some of the key areas covered by MINT. Given the breadth of the fields and the given space constraints, we have limited the coverage to the realm of nanoconstructs, although theranostics is certainly not limited to this domain. We will also focus only on the most recent developments of the last 3-5 years, in order to provide the reader with an intuition of what is "in the pipeline" and has potential for clinical translation in the near future.

From Detection to Resection: Photoacoustic Tomography and Surgery Guidance with Indocyanine Green Loaded Gold Nanorod@liposome Core-Shell Nanoparticles in Liver Cancer

Conventional imaging methods encounter challenges in diagnosing liver cancer that is less than 10 mm or without typical hypervascular features. With deep penetration and high spatial resolution imaging capability, the emerging photoacoustic tomography may offer better diagnostic efficacy for noninvasive liver cancer detection. Moreover, near-infrared fluorescence imaging-guided hepatectomy was proven to be able to identify nodules at the millimeter level. Thus, suitable photoacoustic and fluorescence dual-modality imaging probe may benefit patients in early diagnosis and complete resection. In this study, we fabricated indocyanine green loaded gold nanorod@liposome core-shell nanoparticles (Au@liposome-ICG) to integrate both imaging strategies. These nanoparticles exhibit superior biocompatibility, high stability, and enhanced dual-model imaging signals. Next, we explored their effectiveness of tumor detection and surgery guidance in orthotopic liver cancer mouse models. Histological analysis confirmed the accuracy of the probe in liver cancer detection and resection. This novel dual-modality nanoprobe holds promise for early diagnosis and better surgical outcome of liver cancer and has great potential for clinical translation.

Oxidation-Responsive, EuII/III-Based, Multimodal Contrast Agent for Magnetic Resonance and Photoacoustic Imaging

We report, for the first time, a multimodal, oxidation-responsive contrast agent for magnetic resonance imaging and photoacoustic imaging that uses the differences in the properties between Eu in the +2 and +3 oxidation states. The enhancement of contrast in T1-weighted magnetic resonance and photoacoustic imaging was observed in the +2 but not in the +3 oxidation state, and the complex is a known chemical exchange saturation transfer agent for magnetic resonance imaging in the +3 oxidation state.

Proceedings of the third international molecular pathological epidemiology (MPE) meeting

Molecular pathological epidemiology (MPE) is a transdisciplinary and relatively new scientific discipline that integrates theory, methods, and resources from epidemiology, pathology, biostatistics, bioinformatics, and computational biology. The underlying objective of MPE research is to better understand the etiology and progression of complex and heterogeneous human diseases with the goal of informing prevention and treatment efforts in population health and clinical medicine. Although MPE research has been commonly applied to investigating breast, lung, and colorectal cancers, its methodology can be used to study most diseases. Recent successes in MPE studies include: (1) the development of new statistical methods to address etiologic heterogeneity; (2) the enhancement of causal inference; (3) the identification of previously unknown exposure-subtype disease associations; and (4) better understanding of the role of lifestyle/behavioral factors on modifying prognosis according to disease subtype. Central challenges to MPE include the relative lack of transdisciplinary experts, educational programs, and forums to discuss issues related to the advancement of the field. To address these challenges, highlight recent successes in the field, and identify new opportunities, a series of MPE meetings have been held at the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute in Boston, MA. Herein, we share the proceedings of the Third International MPE Meeting, held in May 2016 and attended by 150 scientists from 17 countries. Special topics included integration of MPE with immunology and health disparity research. This meeting series will continue to provide an impetus to foster further transdisciplinary integration of divergent scientific fields.