Aptamer-conjugated multi-walled carbon nanotubes as a new targeted ultrasound contrast agent for the diagnosis of prostate cancer

Abstract

Early diagnosis is primarily important for the therapeutic and prognostic outcomes of malignancies including prostate cancer (PCa). However, the visuality and veracity of ultrasound imaging for the diagnosis and prognostic prediction of PCa remains poor at present. In this study, we developed a new nanoultrasound contrast agent by modifying multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) with polyethylene glycol (PEG) and anti-PSMA aptamer. The result showed that the modified MWCNTs offered better visuality and veracity and were able to target PCa cells more effectively as compared with the traditional contrast agent. The zeta potential was about − 38 mv. The length of this contrast agent was about 400 nm and the diameter of it was about 30 nm. The zeta potential, TEM, and FT-IR all proved the successful preparation of the agent. The vitro cytological study revealed good cell uptake and biocompatibility of the new contrast agent. The minimum detection concentration in vitro is 10 μg/ml. The earliest stage of the detection was under the parameters of frequency = 6.0 MHz and medical index = 0.06. Both in vitro and in vivo ultrasound imaging demonstrated that the new nanoultrasound contrast agent had a good development effect, distribution, and metabolism, and may prove to be a good targeted ultrasound contrast agent, especially for PCa.

<p>Combination Chemotherapy of Lung Cancer – Co-Delivery of Docetaxel Prodrug and Cisplatin Using Aptamer-Decorated Lipid–Polymer Hybrid Nanoparticles</p>

“…The in vivo enhancement effect of aptamer-conjugated nanotubes was assessed in the transplanted tumor model by Gu et al, and they found that higher accumulation was found in the tumor, heart, and kidney. 47 The same phenomenon was observed in this study that APT-DTXp/DDP-LPHNs showed the highest accumulation in the tumor and lower in heart and kidney. APT-DTXp/DDP-LPHNs showed better antitumor efficiency than non-decorated DTXp/DDP-LPHNs, which may prove the targeted ability of the aptamer.…”

Recent Advances in Nanomaterial-Based Aptasensors in Medical Diagnosis and Therapy

“…As a brief study, Gu and co-workers studied CNTs conjugated with anti-PSMA aptamer and PEG as a nanoultrasound contrast agent ( Figure 4 b) and they found out that the contrast has superior visuality, good distribution and development effect. The conjugated CNT/aptamer was also capable of specific targeting of prostate cancer (PCa) cells due to good cell uptake [ 96 ]. However, CNTs, due to their ability to pass through the blood–brain barrier, are toxic to organs and can induce death at very high dosage but, at low dosage, they can serve as therapeutic drug delivery agents [ 99 ].…”

“…( a - i ) Stepwise synthesis of aptasensor based on conjugates of CNTs, polyethylene glycol (PEG) and aptamer, ( a - ii ) the cellular uptake of a CNT-based aptasensor at different concentrations monitored by flow cytometry, ( a - iii ) concentration dependency of the aptasensor toxicity in cells. Adapted from Gu et al [ 96 ] with permission from Springer. ( b ) Experimental setup for the immobilization of peptide aptamer onto the surface of a CNT and the operating set-up of the liquid-dated CNT FET device for CatE detection.…”

Fundamentals and applications of nanoparticles for ultrasound‐based imaging and therapy

“…Their biomedical applications include long‐lasting US imaging, PA imaging, drug delivery, PTT, and electrochemical biosensor systems. [ 71‐74 ] For example, PEGylated MWCNTs modified with prostate‐specific membrane antigen (PSMA)‐targeting aptamer A10‐3.2 were developed as US imaging contrast agents for prostate cancer. The results were promising regarding the diameter, distribution and metabolism of the US contrast agent.…”

“…The results were promising regarding the diameter, distribution and metabolism of the US contrast agent. [ 71 ]…”