Molecular theranostics is of the utmost interest for diagnosis as well as treatment of different malignancies. In the present study, anionic linear globular dendrimer G2 is employed as a suitable carrier for delivery and AS1411 aptamer is exploited as the targeting agent to carry Iohexol specifically to the human breast cancer cells (MCF-7). Dendrimer G2 was prepared and conjugation of dendrimer and aptamer was carried out thereafter. Based on the data yielded by AFM, morphology of smooth and spherical non-targeted dendrimer changed to the rough aspherical shape when it conjugated. Then, conjugation was confirmed using DLS, ELS and SLS methods. Toxicity on nucleolin positive MCF-7 cells and nucleolin negative HEK-293 cells was assessed by XTT and apoptosis/necrosis assays. In vitro uptake was determined using DAPI-FITC staining and ICP-MS methods. In vivo studies including in vivo CT imaging, pathology and blood tests were done to confirm the imaging ability, bio-safety and targeted nature of the Nano-Theranostics in vivo. In a nutshell, the prepared construction showed promising effects upon decreasing the toxicity of Iohexol on normal cells and accumulation of it in the cancer tumors as well as reducing the number of cancer cells.

IntroductionNowadays, molecular imaging radiopharmaceuticals’, nanoparticles’, and/or small-molecule biomarkers’ applications are increasing rapidly worldwide. Thus, researchers focus on providing the novel, safe, and cost-effective ones.Materials and methodsIn the present experiment, technetium-99m (99mTc)-labeled PEG-citrate dendrimer-G2 conjugated with glutamine (nanoconjugate) was designed and assessed as a novel tumor imaging probe both in vitro and in vivo. Nanoconjugate was synthesized and the synthesis was confirmed by Fourier transform infrared, proton nuclear magnetic resonance, liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry, dynamic light scattering, and static light scattering techniques. The toxicity was assessed by XTT and apoptosis and necrosis methods.ResultsRadiochemical purity indicates that the anionic dendrimer has a very high potential to complex formation with 99mTc and is also very stable in the human serum in different times. Results from the imaging procedures showed potential ability of nanoconjugates to detect tumor site.ConclusionSuitable features of the anionic dendrimer show that it is a promising agent to improve nanoradiopharmaceuticals.

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