Surface tunable polymersomes loaded with magnetic contrast agent and drug for image guided cancer therapy

J Nanosci Nanotechnol. 2013 Mar;13(3):1626-30. doi: 10.1166/jnn.2013.6979.

Abstract

Polymersomes with different surface charges were synthesized from polysuccinimide (p) by introducing positively charged polyethylenimine (PEI-P), neutrally charged polyethylene glycol (PEG-P), and negatively charged glycine (GLY-P) to the polymer backbone polysuccinimide (P). Then, the polymersomes were prepared with super paramagnetic iron nanoparticles (SPIONs) to obtain PEI-P encapsulating SPIONs (PEI-PS), PEG-P encapsulating SPIONs (PEG-PS), and GLY-P encapsulating SPIONs (GLY-PS), respectively. The average particle sizes of GLY-PS, PEG-PS, and PEI-PS were analyzed by dynamic light scattering, and it was around 163.nm, 105 nm, and 285 nm, respectively. The surface charges of GLY-PS, PEG-PS, and PEI-PS was found to be -29.5, -18.9, and +44, respectively. The presence of PEI, PEG, and GLY in the polymer backbone was confirmed with nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR). The GLY-PS, PEG-PS, and PEI-PS were loaded with the anticancer drug paclitaxel during the preparation. The drug release from the PEG-PS was faster compared to GLY-PS and PEI-PS. An in vivo hemi-spleen mouse metastatic liver model was established and imaged with MRI after intravenous administration of GLY-PS, PEG-PS, and PEI-PS. From the T2-weighted imaging, it was evident that PEG-PS accumulated in the spleen and liver more efficiently than the other charged formulations of GLY-PS and PEI-PS. From this study, the nanoparticle-based delivery and imaging of anti-cancer drugs could be effectively demonstrated simultaneously.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Antineoplastic Agents / administration & dosage
  • Antineoplastic Agents / chemistry*
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Contrast Media*
  • Humans
  • Magnetic Resonance Imaging
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred BALB C
  • Neoplasms / drug therapy*
  • Polymers / chemistry*

Substances

  • Antineoplastic Agents
  • Contrast Media
  • Polymers