Enhanced Tumor Imaging Using Glucosamine-Conjugated Polyacrylic Acid-Coated Ultrasmall Gadolinium Oxide Nanoparticles in Magnetic Resonance Imaging

Abstract

Owing to a higher demand for glucosamine (GlcN) in metabolic processes in tumor cells than in normal cells (i.e., GlcN effects), tumor imaging in magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) can be highly improved using GlcN-conjugated MRI contrast agents. Here, GlcN was conjugated with polyacrylic acid (PAA)-coated ultrasmall gadolinium oxide nanoparticles (UGONs) (davg = 1.76 nm). Higher positive (brighter or T1) contrast enhancements at various organs including tumor site were observed in human brain glioma (U87MG) tumor-bearing mice after the intravenous injection of GlcN-PAA-UGONs into their tail veins, compared with those obtained with PAA-UGONs as control, which were rapidly excreted through the bladder. Importantly, the contrast enhancements of the GlcN-PAA-UGONs with respect to those of the PAA-UGONs were the highest in the tumor site owing to GlcN effects. These results demonstrated that GlcN-PAA-UGONs can serve as excellent T1 MRI contrast agents in tumor imaging via GlcN effects.

Click functionalized biocompatible gadolinium oxide core-shell nanocarriers for imaging of breast cancer cells

“…For example, gadolinium oxide particles covered with polymers such as polyacrylic acid or conjugating sericin enhanced magnetic resonance imaging with higher T1 relativity at tumor site in human brain glioma cells. 12,13 Also doping the gadolinium oxide particles with mesoporous silica enhanced T1 contrast of gadolinium due to silica geometrical confinement. 14–16 Recent studies have revealed that the conjugation of Gd 3+ complexes with iron oxide NPs, and the combination of Gd 2 O 3 NPs with other magnetic materials, such as Fe 3 O 4 NPs into single composite particles leads to the enhancement of T1 and T2 contrast in MRI.…”

Recent Metal Nanotheranostics for Cancer Diagnosis and Therapy: A Review

“…Bennettet al [41] investigated the uptake of GdNPs in patients with pancreatic cancer for MR-guided radiation therapy. It has been suggested [60] that glucosamine (GlcN) conjugated with polyacrylic acid (PAA)-coated ultrasmall gadolinium oxide NPs (UGONs), GlcN-PAA-UGONs, have higher contrast enhancement in T 1weighted MR images, and GlcN-PAA-UGONs seem to be an excellent T 1 -weighted MRI contrast agent. Eriksson et al [61] used a survey to improve T 1 -weighted image contrast at the lower dose of Gd ions in cerium oxide NPs as a T 1 -weighted MRI contrast agent and achieved positive results.…”

Preclinical Evaluation of a Protein-Based Nanoscale Contrast Agent for MR Angiography at an Ultralow Dose

“…3,4 To address these concerns, a large number of novel CAs have been developed as alternatives to commercial Gd-based chelators, [5][6][7] among which protein-biomineralized Gd CAs have attracted great attention. [8][9][10][11] In particular, the successful application and excellent efficacy of the commercially available paclitaxel-loaded albumin nanosuspension formulation (Abraxane ® ) demonstrates the great clinical prospects of albumin carriers, thus inspiring the synthesis of various protein-based complexes for biomedical applications. 12,13 In this…”