Radiopaque scaffolds based on electrospun iodixanol/polycaprolactone fibrous composites.

Grafts based on biodegradable polymer scaffolds are increasingly used in tissue-engineering applications as they facilitate natural tissue regeneration. However, monitoring the position and integrity of these scaffolds over time is challenging due to radiolucency. In this study, we used an electrospinning method to fabricate biodegradable scaffolds based on polycaprolactone (PCL) and iodixanol, a clinical contrast agent. Scaffolds were implanted subcutaneously into C57BL/6 mice and monitored in vivo using longitudinal X-ray imaging and micro-computed tomography (CT). The addition of iodixanol altered the physicochemical properties of the PCL scaffold; notably, as the iodixanol concentration increased, the fiber diameter decreased. Radiopacity was achieved with corresponding signal enhancement as iodine concentration increased while exhibiting a steady time-dependent decrease of 0.96% per day in vivo. The electrospun scaffolds had similar performance with tissue culture-treated polystyrene in supporting the attachment, viability, and proliferation of human mesenchymal stem cells. Furthermore, implanted PCL-I scaffolds had more intense acute inflammatory infiltrate and thicker layers of maturing fibrous tissue. In conclusion, we developed radiopaque, biodegradable, biocompatible scaffolds whose position and integrity can be monitored noninvasively. The successful development of other imaging enhancers may further expand the use of biodegradable scaffolds in tissue engineering applications.

Selective uptake and imaging of aptamer- and antibody-conjugated hollow nanospheres targeted to epidermal growth factor receptors overexpressed in head and neck cancer.

The purpose of this study was to compare the binding affinity and selective targeting of aptamer- and antibody-coated hollow gold nanospheres (HAuNS) targeted to epidermal growth factor receptors (EGFR). EGFR-targeting aptamers were conjugated to HAuNS (apt-HAuNS) by attaching a thiol-terminated single-stranded DNA to the HAuNS and then adding the complementary RNA targeted to EGFR. Apt-HAuNS was characterized in terms of size, surface charge, absorption, and number of aptamers per particle. The in vivo pharmacokinetics, in vivo biodistribution, and micro-SPECT/CT imaging of (111)In-labeled apt-HAuNS and anti-EGFR antibody (C225)-conjugated HAuNS were evaluated in nude mice bearing highly malignant human OSC-19 oral tumors. (111)In-labeled PEG-HAuNS was used as a control (n = 5/group). Apt-HAuNS did not have an altered absorbance profile or size (λmax = 800 nm; diameter = 55 nm) compared to C225-HAuNS or PEG-HAuNS. The surface charge became more negative upon conjugation of the aptamer (-51.4 vs -19.0 for PEG-HAuNS and -25.0 for C225-HAuNS). The number of aptamers/particle was ∼250. In vitro cell binding and in vivo biodistribution showed selective binding of the apt-HAuNS to EGFR. µSPECT/CT imaging confirmed that there was more tumor uptake of apt-HAuNS than C225-HAuNS. Aptamer is a promising ligand for image-guided delivery of nanoparticles for treatment of tumor cells overexpressing EGFR.