ABSTRACT
Here we report design of a smart nanoconstruct that can be used as a multimodal theranostic platform for imaging and therapy applications. Decorated with two sizes of magnetic nanostructures (MNS) on thermoresponsive nanosized hydrogel (NG), the NG-MNS nanoconstruct shows dual-mode contrast enhancement ability in MRI and thermo-chemo therapeutic ability under an RF field. Because of the unique design where all MNS are at the exterior of the nanoconstruct, no compromise in the physical properties of MNS and their effect on contrast enhancement and thermal activation has been observed. In a series of in vitro analyses in human breast adenocarcinoma (MDA-MB-231) cells, we validate that NG-MNS show dual-mode MR imaging capability with a higher signal/noise ratio than in clinically approved dual-mode contrast agents as well as enhanced therapeutic efficacy compared to previously reported hydrogel-based nanocarriers and free drug systems.
ABSTRACT
We report magnetic nanostructure-stabilized lipid nanocapsules (MLNCs) that show superior structural stability and theranostic properties compared to conventional lipid-based nanocarriers. As therapeutic nanocarriers, the MLNCs exhibit a therapeutic efficacy that is 16 times greater than that of free drugs due to their high payload capacity and actuated drug release ability. In addition, the magnetic resonance contrast enhancement of the MLNCs is nine times higher than that of a clinically approved T2 MRI contrast agent (ferumoxytol), demonstrating the diagnostic imaging capability of the MLNCs in MRI. The self-assembly method to synthesize the lipid nanocapsules is extended to other types of nanoparticles (gold nanoparticles and quantum dots) to produce lipid nanohybrids with distinct physical properties.
