Targeting prostate cancer with Clostridium perfringens enterotoxin functionalized nanoparticles co-encapsulating imaging cargo enhances magnetic resonance imaging specificity

Nanomedicine. 2022 Feb:40:102477. doi: 10.1016/j.nano.2021.102477. Epub 2021 Nov 3.

Abstract

Magnetic resonance is a key imaging tool for the detection of prostate cancer; however, better tools focusing on cancer specificity are required to distinguish benign from cancerous regions. We found higher expression of claudin-3 (CLDN-3) and -4 (CLDN-4) in higher grade than lower-grade human prostate cancer biopsies (n = 174), leading to the design of functionalized nanoparticles (NPs) with a non-toxic truncated version of the natural ligand Clostridium perfringens enterotoxin (C-CPE) that has a strong binding affinity to Cldn-3 and Cldn-4 receptors. We developed a first-of-its-type, C-CPE-NP-based MRI detection tool in a prostate tumor-bearing mouse model. NPs with an average diameter of 152.9 ± 15.7 nm (RS1) had a 2-fold enhancement of tumor specificity compared to larger (421.2 ± 33.8 nm) NPs (RS4). There was a 1.8-fold (P < 0.01) and 1.6-fold (P < 0.01) upregulation of the tumor-to-liver signal intensities of C-RS1 and C-RS4 (functionalized NPs) compared to controls, respectively. Also, tumor specificity was 3.1-fold higher (P < 0.001) when comparing C-RS1 to C-RS4. This detection tool improved tumor localization of contrast-enhanced MRI, supporting potential clinical applicability.

Keywords: Claudin-3; Claudin-4; Dual loaded functionalized nanoparticles; Magnetic resonance imaging; Prostate tumor bearing mice; Tumor specificity.

Publication types

  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Enterotoxins / metabolism
  • Humans
  • Magnetic Resonance Imaging
  • Male
  • Mice
  • Nanoparticles*
  • Prostatic Neoplasms* / diagnostic imaging
  • Prostatic Neoplasms* / metabolism

Substances

  • Enterotoxins
  • enterotoxin, Clostridium