Nafion-Based Nanocarriers for Fluorine Magnetic Resonance Imaging

Abstract

The aim of our study was to develop a novel method for nanocarriers’ preparation as a fluorine magnetic resonance imaging ( 19 F MRI)-detectable drug delivery system. The novelty of the proposed approach is based on the application of fluorinated polyelectrolyte Nafion as a contrast agent since typical MRI contrast agents are based on paramagnetic gadolinium or ferro/superparamagnetic iron oxide compounds. An advantage of using an 19 F-based tracer comes from the fact that the 19 F image is detected at a different resonance frequency than the 1 H image. In addition, the close to zero natural concentration of 19 F nuclei in the human body makes fluorine atoms a promising MRI marker without any natural background signal. That creates the opportunity to localize and identify only exogenous fluorinated compounds with 100% specificity. The nanocarriers were formed by the deposition of polyelectrolytes on nanoemulsion droplets via the layer-by-layer technique with the saturation approach. The polyelectrolyte multilayer shell was composed of Nafion, the fluorinated ionic polymer used for labeling by 19 F nuclei, and poly- l -lysine (PLL). The surface of such prepared nanocarriers was further pegylated by adsorption of pegylated polyanion, poly- l -glutamic acid (PGA). The 19 F MRI-detectable hydrophobic nanocarriers with an average size of 170 nm and a sufficient signal-to-noise ratio have been developed and optimized to be used for passive tumor targeting and drug delivery.

19F MRI Nanotheranostics for Cancer Management: Progress and Prospects

“…In addition to the above, other fluoropolymers such as fluorinated anionic polyelectrolyte Nafion and polycation poly‐L‐lysine were self‐assembled layer‐by‐layer onto the surface of the nanoemulsion drops. The resulting nanocomposites were functionalized by PEG and used for efficient 19 F MRI and hydrophobic cargo delivery (Figure 8b) [127] . Zhu et al [128] .…”

Nanotechnology as a Versatile Tool for 19F-MRI Agent’s Formulation: A Glimpse into the Use of Perfluorinated and Fluorinated Compounds in Nanoparticles

“…The conclusion stemmed from the finding that PEG with bulky side chains prevented the aggregation of the fluorinated moieties in the NP corona, hence exhibiting extended T 2 . Other studies in the polymeric system include Nafion (sulfonated tetrafluoroethylene based fluoropolymercopolymer) based nanocarriers that were experimented with for 19 F MRI [193] together with poly-L-lysine and pegylated poly-L-glutamic. Cascaded, multi-responsive, self-assembled nanoprobe was identified for sensing and imaging by the sequential redox-triggered and NIR irradiation-induced 19 F MR signal activation/amplification [66].…”

meta-Terphenyls as versatile fluorescent molecular sensors for monitoring the progress of hybrid polymerization processes

“…There is some evidence that when the monitoring wavelengths used in the FPT for measurement of the ratio (R) are selected so as to correspond to half height of the fluorescence spectrum of a sensor, then the relationship between the ratio (R) and conversion of reacting functional groups is linear. 29 Then the ratio change induced by the polymerization of each particular functional group (ΔR i , i = 1 or 2) can be expressed by eqn (5):…”

“…Polymers have conquered not only the chemical market but also other sectors, such as biomedicine, allowing development of engineering materials for fabrication of artificial tissues, 1,2 protective coatings, 3,4 or materials for targeted drug delivery applications. 5,6 Various methods are used for polymer production. One of the most modern methods of polymer synthesis is photopolymerization.…”