Chelator-Free Labeling of Layered Double Hydroxide Nanoparticles for in Vivo PET Imaging

Abstract

Layered double hydroxide (LDH) nanomaterial has emerged as a novel delivery agent for biomedical applications due to its unique structure and properties. However, in vivo positron emission tomography (PET) imaging with LDH nanoparticles has not been achieved. The aim of this study is to explore chelator-free labeling of LDH nanoparticles with radioisotopes for in vivo PET imaging. Bivalent cation 64Cu2+ and trivalent cation 44Sc3+ were found to readily label LDH nanoparticles with excellent labeling efficiency and stability, whereas tetravalent cation 89Zr4+ could not label LDH since it does not fit into the LDH crystal structure. PET imaging shows that prominent tumor uptake was achieved in 4T1 breast cancer with 64Cu-LDH-BSA via passive targeting alone (7.7 ± 0.1%ID/g at 16 h post-injection; n = 3). These results support that LDH is a versatile platform that can be labeled with various bivalent and trivalent radiometals without comprising the native properties, highly desirable for PET image-guided drug delivery.

Radiolabeled inorganic nanoparticles for positron emission tomography imaging of cancer: an overview

“…In a similar study, the utility of chelator free radiolabeling approach was demonstrated by Shi et al using Mg 2 Al-layered double hydroxide nanoparticles. 117 The nanoplatform could easily be radiolabeled with bivalent 64 Cu 2+ and trivalent 44 Sc 3+ cations and used for in vivo PET imaging in 4T1 tumor bearing mice.…”

2D Nanomaterials for Cancer Theranostic Applications

“…In addition, Mei et al designed Gd‐ and Yb‐codoped LDH nanosheets for dual‐modal MR/CT imaging to overcome the limitations of singular imaging approaches . Moreover, a pioneering study of LDHs in PET imaging have been reported by Cai et al It was found that the trivalent cation 44 Sc 3+ and the bivalent cation 64 Cu 2+ could be used to successfully label BSA‐LDHs with a good labeling stability and efficiency (Figure B) . Thus, chelator‐free labeling of BSA‐LDHs has been used for in vivo PET imaging.…”

Positron emission tomography and nanotechnology: A dynamic duo for cancer theranostics

“…[287] Though preliminary, these studies highlight the promising potential of transitional metal dichalcogenides for multimodal image-guided cancer therapy. In addition, other nanomaterials; copper nanoparticles and nanoclusters [288, 289], oxides of titanium [290], zinc [291], aluminum [29, 30], cerium [292], layered double hydroxides [293], and oxysulfides [294] have also shown promising results as multifunctional theranostic radiotracers (Figure 9a–f). …”

“…of 64 Cu-LDH-BSA shows enhanced 4T1 tumor uptake. Reproduced with permission from [293]. Copyright of Nature Publishing Group.…”