Carboxymethyl-hexanoyl Chitosan Nanodroplets for Ultrasonic Imaging and Drug Delivery to Tumor.

INTRODUCTION: Although a great many strategies have been proposed for tumor-targeted chemotherapy, current delivery methods of anticancer drugs present limited success with inevitable systemic toxicity. The aim of this study was to develop a new kind of theranostic carrier for targeted tumor therapy. METHODS: Prior to prepare CHC-PFP-DOX, carboxymethyl-hexanoyl chitosan (CHC) was synthesized by acylation of carboxymethyl chitosan. To develop CHC-PFP, perfluoropentane (PFP), an ultrasound gas precursor, was simultaneously encapsulated into the hydrophobic inner cores of pre-formulated CHC micelle in aqueous phase via using the oil in water (O/W) emulsion method. The size distribution and surface charges of these nanodroplets were measured and the morphology was observed by transmission electron microscopy (TEM). For ultrasound imaging application, in vitro model was established to evaluate the imaging of CHC-PFP-DOX under different concentration and mechanical index. After that, the anti-tumor effect of ultrasound combined with CHC-PFPDOX on ovarian cancer cells was investigated. RESULTS: The resulting CHC-PFP-DOX had a nano-sized particle structure, with hydrophobic anticancer DOX/PFP inner cores and a hydrophilic carboxymethyl chitosan polymer outer shell. The favorable nano-scaled size offers the potential to extravagate from veins and accumulate in tumor tissues via enhanced permeation and retention (EPR) effect. Additionally, CHC-PFP-DOX showed the ability to serve as ultrasound imaging agent at body temperature. Notably, it exhibited an ultrasound-triggered drug release profile through the external ultrasound irradiation. Further study demonstrated that ultrasound combined with CHC-PFP-DOX can improve the killing effect of chemotherapy for tumor. CONCLUSION: CHC-PFP-DOX holds great promise in simultaneous cancer-targeting ultrasound imaging and ultrasound- mediated delivery for cancer chemotherapy.

Three-dimensional Hysterosalpingo-contrast-sonography in the Assessment of Fallopian Tubal Patency / 中国医学影像学杂志

Purpose To investigate the clinical value of three-dimensional hysterosalpingo-contrast-sonography (3D-HyCoSy) in the assessment of fallopian tubal patency.Materials and Methods Fallopian tubal patency of 33 infertile women was assessed using transvaginal 3D-HyCoSy, and the results were compared with laparoscopically salpingoraphy, the sensitivity, specificity, positive likelihood ratio and negative likelihood ratio of 3D-HyCoSy were evaluated.Results 3D-HyCoSy showed 20 passable fallopian tubes, 10 partially passable fallopian tubes and 36 obstructed tubes, while lapascopically salpingoraphy showed 23 passable fallopian tubes, 7 partially passable fallopian tubes and 36 obstructed tubes. The total coincidence rate of 3D-HyCoSy to assess the fallopian tubal patency was 86.4% (57/66), with the sensitivity of 93.0% (40/43), specificityof 73.9% (17/23), positive likelihood ratio of 7.15, and negative likelihood ratio of 0.20.Conclusion Tubal patency can be efficiently and accurately assessed using 3D-HyCoSy, but patients with obstructed or partially passable fallopian tubes should undergo laparoscopy to clarify.