In vivo tumor targeting of gold nanoparticles: effect of particle type and dosing strategy

Abstract

Gold nanoparticles (GNPs) have gained significant interest as nanovectors for combined imaging and photothermal therapy of tumors. Delivered systemically, GNPs preferentially accumulate at the tumor site via the enhanced permeability and retention effect, and when irradiated with near infrared light, produce sufficient heat to treat tumor tissue. The efficacy of this process strongly depends on the targeting ability of the GNPs, which is a function of the particle's geometric properties (eg, size) and dosing strategy (eg, number and amount of injections). The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of GNP type and dosing strategy on in vivo tumor targeting. Specifically, we investigated the in vivo tumortargeting efficiency of pegylated gold nanoshells (GNSs) and gold nanorods (GNRs) for single and multiple dosing. We used Swiss nu/nu mice with a subcutaneous tumor xenograft model that received intravenous administration for a single and multiple doses of GNS and GNR. We performed neutron activation analysis to quantify the gold present in the tumor and liver. We performed histology to determine if there was acute toxicity as a result of multiple dosing. Neutron activation analysis results showed that the smaller GNRs accumulated in higher concentrations in the tumor compared to the larger GNSs. We observed a significant increase in GNS and GNR accumulation in the liver for higher doses. However, multiple doses increased targeting efficiency with minimal effect beyond three doses of GNPs. These results suggest a significant effect of particle type and multiple doses on increasing particle accumulation and on tumor targeting ability.

Study of Tumour and Surrounding Tissue Heating with Near-Infrared Radiation after the Injection of Gold Nanoparticles into the Tissue

“…This assumption is confirmed by the data of Ref. [24], where it was shown that the maximal accumulation of nanorods in the tumour is observed in the case of triple injection of nanoparticles.…”

A Review of Current Research into the Biogenic Synthesis of Metal and Metal Oxide Nanoparticles via Marine Algae and Seagrasses

“…Au nanoparticles with their unique size dependent properties have been used in a variety of applications that include catalytic agents, biosensors, pharmaceuticals, imaging, and electronics [125][126][127][128][129][130]. Because of their unique properties and applications, research has focused on using alternative methods for manufacturing Au nanoparticles.…”

Passing through the renal clearance barrier: toward ultrasmall sizes with stable ligands for potential clinical applications

“…7,27,29 In order to decrease toxicity, one of the most effective options is to decrease the size of the nanoparticles, making them behave as supermolecules which can induce "leakage" of nanoparticles in vivo mediated by the kidney. 30, 31 Choi et al proposed that nanoparticles can be cleared when the hydrodynamic size of nanoparticles is decreased to 5.5 nm. 32 We can define this hydrodynamic size as the size of the renal clearance barrier (Figure 1).…”