In vitro and in vivo evaluation of superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles coated by bisphosphonates: the effects of electrical charge and molecule length.

Physicochemical coating properties are often considered to be determining factors for in vivo characteristics of superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles, used as contrast agent in Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI). To investigate the electrical charge (modified by zero, one or two ammonium groups) and the molecule length (3, 5 or 7 methylene chains) effects of bisphosphonate-type coatings, we assessed the complement activation, in vivo plasma and tissue relaxation time alterations of intravenously injected small iron oxide nanoparticles (<25 nm) on male healthy Wistar rats. The presence of ammonium groups induces a weak activation of the complement whatever the size and the concentration of particles, whereas hydroxyethylenebisphosphonate (HEBP)-coated particles are poor complement activators only at the lowest concentration. In vivo, HEBP-coated nanoparticles have the greatest prolonged relaxation time effects, despite their higher negative electrical charge, contrary to two ammonium bearing coatings. No significant differences were observed between mono-ammonium molecular coatings.

Development and characterization of immuno-nanocarriers targeting the cancer stem cell marker AC133.

In the context of targeted therapy, we addressed the possibility of developing a drug delivery nanocarrier capable to specifically reach cancer cells that express the most prominent marker associated with cancer stem cell (CSC) phenotype, AC133. For this purpose, 100nm lipid nanocapsules (LNCs) were functionalized with a monoclonal antibody (mAb) directed against AC133 according to two distinct methods: firstly, post-insertion within 100nm LNCs of a lipid poly(ethylene glycol) functionalized with reactive-sulfhydryl maleimide groups (DSPE-PEG(2000)-maleimide) followed by thiolated mAb coupling, and, secondly, creation of a thiolated lipo-immunoglobulin between DSPE-PEG(2000)-maleimide and AC133, then post-inserted within LNCs. Due to the reduced number of purification steps, lower amounts of DSPE-PEG(2000)-maleimide that were necessary as well as lower number of free maleimide functions present onto the surface of immuno-LNC, the second method was found to be more appropriate. Thus, 126nm AC133-LNC with a zeta potential of -22mV while keeping a narrow distribution were developed. Use of the IgG1κ isotype control-immunoglobulins produced similar control IgG1-LNCs. Micro-Bradford colorimetric assay indicated a fixation of about 40 immunoglobulins per LNC. Use of human Caco-2 cells that constitutively express AC133 (Caco-2-AC133(high)) allowed addressing the behavior of the newly functionalized immuno-LNCs. siRNA knockown strategy permitted to obtain Caco-2-AC133(low) for comparison. Immunofluorescence-combined flow cytometry analysis demonstrated that the epitope-recognition function of AC133 antibody was preserved when present on immuno-LNCs. Although grafting of immunoglobulins onto the surface of LNCs repressed their internalization within Caco-2 cells as evaluated by flow cytometry, AC133-specific cellular binding was obtained with AC133-LNC as assessed by computer-assisted fluorescence microscopy. In conclusion, interest of AC133-LNCs as niche carriers is discussed toward the development of CSC targeted chemo- or radio-nanomedicines.

A starch-based microparticulate system dedicated to diagnostic and therapeutic nuclear medicine applications.

The aim of this work was to develop a new microparticulate system able to form a complex with radionuclides with a high yield of purity for diagnostic or therapeutic applications. Owing to its properties potato starch was chosen as starting material and modified by oxidization and coupling of a ligand (polyamine) enabling modified starch to chelate radionuclides. The choice of suitable experiments was based on a combination of a Rechtschaffner experimental design and a surface response design to determine the influence of experimental parameters and to optimize the final product. Starch-based microparticle formulations from the experimental plans were compared and characterized through particle size analysis, scanning electron microscopy, elemental analysis and, for the most promising formulations, by in vitro labeling stability studies and determination of free polyamine content or in vivo imaging studies. The mechanism of starch-based microparticle degradation was identified by means of size measurements. The results of the Rechtschaffner design showed the positive qualitative effect of the temperature and the duration of coupling reaction whereas surface response analysis clearly showed that, by increasing the oxidization level and starch concentration, the nitrogen content in the final product is increased. In vitro and in vivo characterization led to identification of the best formulation. With a size around 30 µm, high radiochemical purity (over 95%) and a high signal-to-noise ratio (over 600), the new starch-based microparticulate system could be prepared as ready-to-use kits and sterilized without modification of its characteristics, and thus meet the requirement for in vivo diagnostic and therapeutic applications.

Self-assembled monolayers of bisphosphonates: influence of side chain steric hindrance.

Bisphosphonates form self-assembled monolayers (SAMs) spontaneously on stainless steel, silicon, and titanium oxidized surfaces. We used contact angle measurements, atomic force microscopy, and X-ray reflectivity analysis to study the formation of SAMs on a model surface of ultraflat titanium (rms = 0.2 nm). The results were extended to standard materials (mechanically polished titanium, stainless steel, and silicon) and showed that water-soluble bisphosphonic perfluoropolyether can easily form SAMs, with 100% surface coverage and a layer thickness of less than 3 nm. Hydrophobic (water contact angle >110 degrees on stainless steel or titanium) and lipophobic (methylene iodide contact angle >105 degrees on titanium) properties are discussed in terms of industrial applications.

188Re-loaded lipid nanocapsules as a promising radiopharmaceutical carrier for internal radiotherapy of malignant gliomas.

PURPOSE: Lipid nanocapsules (LNC) entrapping lipophilic complexes of (188)Re ((188)Re(S(3)CPh)(2)(S(2)CPh) [(188)Re-SSS]) were investigated as a novel radiopharmaceutical carrier for internal radiation therapy of malignant gliomas. The present study was designed to evaluate the efficacy of intra-cerebral administration of (188)Re-SSS LNC by means of convection-enhanced delivery (CED) on a 9L rat brain tumour model. METHODS: Female Fischer rats with 9L glioma were treated with a single injection of (188)Re-SSS LNC by CED 6 days after cell implantation. Rats were put into random groups according to the dose infused: 12, 10, 8 and 3 Gy in comparison with blank LNC, perrhenate solution (4 Gy) and non-treated animals. The radionuclide brain retention level was evaluated by measuring (188)Re elimination in faeces and urine over 72 h after the CED injection. The therapeutic effect of (188)Re-SSS LNC was assessed based on animal survival. RESULTS: CED of (188)Re perrhenate solution resulted in rapid drug clearance with a brain T (1/2) of 7h. In contrast, when administered in LNC, (188)Re tissue retention was greatly prolonged, with only 10% of the injected dose being eliminated at 72 h. Rat median survival was significantly improved for the group treated with 8 Gy (188)Re-SSS LNC compared to the control group and blank LNC-treated animals. The increase in the median survival time was about 80% compared to the control group; 33% of the animals were long-term survivors. The dose of 8 Gy proved to be a very effective dose, between toxic (10-12 Gy) and ineffective (3-4 Gy) doses. CONCLUSIONS: These findings show that CED of (188)Re-loaded LNC is a safe and potent anti-tumour system for treating malignant gliomas. Our data are the first to show the in vivo efficacy of (188)Re internal radiotherapy for the treatment of brain malignancy.

In vivo evaluation of lipid nanocapsules as a promising colloidal carrier for paclitaxel.

Paclitaxel-loaded lipid nanocapsules (PX-LNC) exhibit interesting in vitro characteristics with improved antitumoral activity compared with free PX formulation. Biodistribution studies were realized with the use of (14)C-trimyristin ((14)C-TM) or (14)C-phosphatidylcholine ((14)C-PC) whereas antitumoral activity of PX-LNC formulations was based on the animal survival in a chemically induced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) model in Wistar rats. Blood concentration-time profiles for both labeled (14)C-TM-LNC and (14)C-PC-LNC were similar; the t(1/2) and MRT values (over 2h and close to 3h, respectively, for both formulations) indicated the long circulating properties of the LNC carrier with a slow distribution and elimination phase. Survival curves of paclitaxel treated groups showed a statistical significant difference compared to the control survival curve (P=0.0036 and 0.0408). Animals treated with 4x 70 mg/m(2) of PX-LNC showed the most significant increase in mean survival times compared to the controls (IST(mean) 72%) and cases of long-term survivors were preferentially observed in the PX-LNC treated group (37.5%; 3/8). These results demonstrate the great interest to use LNC as drug delivery system for paclitaxel, permitting with an equivalent therapeutic efficiency to avoid the use of excipients such as polyoxyethylated castor oil for its formulation.

Radiolabeling and targeting of lipidic nanocapsules for applications in radioimmunotherapy.

AIM: Radioimmunotherapy is limited in some cases by the low radioactive doses delivered to tumor cells by antibodies or pretargeted haptens. In order to increase this dose, lipidic nanocapsules (LNC) with a hydrophobic core are proposed as radionuclide vectors that could be targeted to cancer cells by a bispecific anti-tumor x anti-hapten antibody after incorporation of different haptens in the nanocapsule membrane. METHODS: To bind different radionuclides to the nanocapsules, several bifunctional chelating agents (BCA) were used to form stable complexes with the radionuclides. Some of them are hydrophilic for LNC shell while others are lipophilic to radiolabel the core. Poly(ethylene glycols) (PEG) were used to increase the residence time in blood. Since PEG can modify haptens recognition by the bispecific antibody and radiolabeling efficiency, haptens, BCA or Bolton-Hunter reagent (BH) were attached to the PEG extremity to optimize accessibility. Specific constructs (DSPE-PEG-haptens, DSPE-PEG-BCA, and DSPE-PEG-BH) were synthesized to develop these new radiolabeled vector formulations. Large amounts of PEG have been introduced by a postinsertion method without important change in nanocapsule size and properties. The nanocapsule core was radiolabeled with a lipophilic [(99m)Tc]SSS complex. RESULTS: Serum stability studies showed that this (99m)Tc-labeling method was efficient for at least 20 h. Concerning the nanocapsule surface, several methods have been performed for (111)In-labeling by using DSPE-PEG-DTPA and for (125)I-labeling with DSPE-PEG-BH. CONCLUSIONS: The nanocapsules labeling feasibility with a variety of radionuclides and their stability were demonstrated in this paper.

Evaluating SPIO-labelled cell MR efficiency by three-dimensional quantitative T2* MRI.

An in vitro MR-assay for superparamagnetic iron oxide (SPIO) particle cell labelling assessment via three-dimensional quantitative T(2) (*) MR microscopy was proposed. On high-resolution images, and due to the high susceptibility difference between the particles and the surrounding medium, SPIO internalized in cells induces signal loss which may be counted and measured on T(2) (*) maps. The increase in both labelled cell percentage and the average perturbation volume with an added amount of iron in the incubation medium proved that intracellular iron uptake is dependent upon the initial concentration of incubation iron. It also proved that the observed increases in total cellular iron uptake measured by inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectroscopy are due to both an increase in the iron mass per cell and also an increase in labelled cell concentration. MR results were compared with Prussian blue staining histology. The sensitivity of the MR methodology was then used to distinguish labelling differences for two different types of particle coating. The MRI-assay we proposed is a compulsory tool to optimize labelling efficiency in order to improve in vivo cell detection. Key parameters for detection, such as the percentage of cell labelling, the effect on the image for a given amount of internalized iron and labelling distribution among a cell population, are easily obtained. The comparison of different contrast agents for labelling one cell type, the assessment of one type of contrast agent for labelling different cell types and/or the evaluation of labelling strategies, are possible without having recourse to classical methods, and provide improved accuracy, since the principle is based on intracellular relaxivity.

New thermoluminescent dosimeters (TLD): optimization and characterization of TLD threads sterilizable by autoclave.

To improve the performance of mono-extruded TLD threads as a dosimetric thermoluminescent tool (French Patent 9903729), a new process was developed by co-extrusion methodology leading to threads of 600 microm diameter with a 50 microm homogeneous polypropylene sheath. In this optimization work, study of parameters such as LiF:Mg,Cu,P powder granulometry, load rate and proportion of components led to an increased sensitivity of around 40%. Moreover, the co-extrusion technique allowed the threads to be sterilized by humid steam (134 degrees C/18 min) without significant variation of the linearity response between 0 and 30 Gy after gamma irradiation (60Co).

Biodistribution of dual radiolabeled lipidic nanocapsules in the rat using scintigraphy and gamma counting.

The aim of the present work was to study the biodistribution of a radiolabeled lipidic nanocapsule formulation after intravenous administration in rat by scintigraphy and gamma counting. This formulation is expected to be used as anticancer agent delivery devices and as transfection complexes. For this purpose, 99mTc-oxine was incorporated in the lipidic core, while 125I labeled tensioactive shell of the nanocapsule. First, in vitro stability of radiolabeled nanocapsules was evaluated by dialysis against distilled water and size measurements. Second, the nanocapsule biodistribution was followed after intravenous administration for 3 h by dynamic scintigraphic acquisition and up to 24 h by determining the gamma activity in blood and tissues. Radiolabeling was efficient and stable in vitro. After intravenous injection blood radioactivity decreased with an early half disappearance time of about 45 min for both radioisotopes. Liver and intestine radioactivities raised up to 24 h. The relatively long remanence in blood of the tracers which is probably due to the presence of PEG at the nanocarrier surface seems promising for the use of these solvent free lipidic nanocapsules as carrier of lipophilic drugs.

Phosphorylcholine Coating of Iron Oxide Nanoparticles.

In order to develop thin-walled superparamagnetic nanoparticle suspensions as a contrast agent for magnetic resonance imaging, phosphorylcholine PC was used to coat iron oxide cores of 5 nm. Weak stable positively charged suspensions can be obtained at concentration greater than 3 mmol.l-1 (corresponding to about 3.2 molecules per nm2), while the addition of phosphorylglycerol PG decreases the electrophoretic mobility. Raising the pH over 6 leads to flocculation: the binding of PC on iron oxides as a function of pH appears to be reversible. By Langmuir analysis, two adsorption domains may be observed with a maximal density of 3.48 and 6.55 mol.nm-2, interpreted as a multilayer formation. Copyright 1999 Academic Press.

Tetra-p-aminophenylporphyrin conjugated with Gd-DTPA: tumor-specific contrast agent for MR imaging.

Tetra-p-aminophenylporphyrin (TPP) was conjugated with gadolinium diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid (DTPA) and used as a contrast agent in magnetic resonance (MR) imaging to achieve tumor selectivity in nude mice. A substantial decrease in T1 was measured in excised tissues (kidneys, tumor, and liver) from mice that received the porphyrin derivative Gd2(DTPA)4 TPP. Toxicity and phototoxicity were less than those obtained with hematoporphyrin derivative in both L1210 lymphoblastic leukemia cells and HT 29 human colonic cancer cells, as determined with in vitro assays. MR images showed an enhancement of contrast between the tumor and adjacent tissue after injection of this agent. The results indicate that Gd2(DTPA)4TPP could be a useful prototype paramagnetic porphyrin MR imaging contrast agent with an affinity for tumors.