In vitro study of SPIO‐labeled human pancreatic cancer cell line BxPC‐3

Abstract

The survivin gene is highly expressed in pancreatic cancer. The purpose of this study was to design and synthesize functionalized magnetic iron oxide nanoparticles (MNPs) targeting survivin gene for the detection of pancreatic cancer. The pancreatic cancer cell line BxPC-3 with survivin gene expression was selected in this study. The healthy lung fibroblast cell was used as a control. Chitosan-coated MNPs (CS@MNPs) and antisense oligodeoxynucleotide of survivin gene were conjugated to MNPs to give Sur-MNPs. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy was performed to confirm the conjunction of chitosan. The interactions of MNPs, CS@MNPs, and Sur-MNPs in BxPC-3 cells were observed, recorded and analyzed. The size, morphology, cell uptake, cytotoxicity and stability of those particles were assessed by transmission electron microscope, Prussian blue staining, MTT assay and agarose gel electrophoresis. The magnetic resonance signal intensities of pancreatic cells labeled with CS@MNPs and MNPs, and Sur-MNPs, were compared on T₂-weighted images. The results demonstrated that the level of cellular uptake of CS@MNPs was higher than that of naked MNPs. The Sur-MNPs had a suitable size (12 nm sized core), high stability, no cytotoxicity and good water dispersion. Sur-MNPs did not accumulate in healthy lung fibroblast cells, while being taken up by BxPC-3 cells. The Sur-MNPs in BxPC-3 cells could be visualized on T₂-weighted images, which suggested that Sur-MNPs could be used to detect the expression of survivin gene. Thus, Sur-MNPs may be a potential molecular imaging probe targeting survivin gene for early detection of pancreatic cancer cells.

Plectin-1 Targeted Dual-modality Nanoparticles for Pancreatic Cancer Imaging

“…Magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs) can induce changes in T2-or T2*-weight MR images and have been considered as good carriers for targeted molecules with high biocompatibility and low toxicity ( Vuong et al, 2012 ). Optical imaging and/or MR imaging has been applied for pancreatic cancer imaging in previous studies ( Yang et al, 2009 ; Tong et al, 2013 ; Wang et al, 2016 ).…”

“…Targeted molecules should be highly expressed in cancer cells but absent or under-expressed in normal adjacent tissues ( Yang et al, 2009 ). To find such target molecules, CA19.9 ( Houghton et al, 2015 ), urokinase plasminogen activator ( Yang et al, 2009 ), claudin-4 ( Neesse et al, 2013 ), surviving( Tong et al, 2013 ; Wang et al, 2016 ), insulin-like growth factor-1 receptor (IGF-1R) ( Park et al, 2016 ; England et al, 2016 ), integrin αvβ6 ( Liu et al, 2014 ), integrin αvβ3 ( Trajkovic-Arsic et al, 2014 ) and galectin-1 ( Rosenberger et al, 2015 ) have been tested in pancreatic cancer imaging. Kelly et al (2008) first identified that plectin-1 is highly expressed in invasive pancreatic cancer.…”

Molecular Imaging with MRI: Potential Application in Pancreatic Cancer

“…To our knowledge, the value of SPIO for targeted imaging lies in the fact that the SPIO surface can be packaged and subsequently combined with appropriate targeting ligands. In recent years, some scholars [ 19 – 23 ] have studied the design scheme and biological characteristics of the molecular imaging application of SPIO and believe that to ensure that SPIO has hydrophobic and certain toxic properties and is uniformly distributed in the ferrofluid the selection of the surface package material is critical. The material used for the surface coating of the magnetic particles not only must be nontoxic and biocompatible but also must allow the targetable delivery with particle localization within a specific area.…”

“…More recently, the survivin gene, which is a potential marker of PC, has been regarded as a targeting gene, and chitosan-coated magnetic iron oxide particles (MNPs) have been regarded as imaging probes for the detection of PC [ 19 ]. Chitosan-coated MNPs (cs@MNPs) and antisense oligodeoxynucleotides of the survivin gene were conjugated to MNPs to produce Sur-MNPs.…”

In vitro and in vivo targeting imaging of pancreatic cancer using a Fe3O4@SiO2 nanoprobe modified with anti-mesothelin antibody

“…Survivin gene, which is a member of the inhibitor of apoptosis family, is abundantly expressed in the serum of most pancreatic cancer patients. 16, 17 Tong et al 18 synthesized a survivin gene-targeted magnetic iron oxide nanoparticle with high stability and without any toxicity. The magnetic molecular probe selectively targeted the pancreatic cancer cells with survivin gene expression.…”