Nanostructural Control Enables Optimized Photoacoustic–Fluorescence–Magnetic Resonance Multimodal Imaging and Photothermal Therapy of Brain Tumor

Abstract

The performance of current multimodal imaging contrast agents is often constrained by the tunability of nanomaterial structural design. Herein, the influence of nanostructure on the overall imaging performance of a composite nanomaterial for multimodal imaging of brain tumors is studied. Newly designed near-infrared molecules (TC1) are encapsulated into nanocomposites with ultrasmall iron oxide nanoparticles (UIONPs), forming stable nanoagents for multimodal imaging and photothermal therapy (PTT). Through a modified nanoprecipitation method, the synthesis of nanocomposites denoted as HALF is realized, in which UIONPs are restricted to half of the nanosphere. Such a unique nanostructure that physically separates TC1 and UIONPs is found with capabilities of mitigating fluorescence quenching, preserving the good performance of photoacoustic imaging, and enhancing the magnetic resonance imaging signals. Decorated with a peptide ligand cRGD for better brain tumor targeting, HALF-cRGD is evaluated both in vitro and in vivo as imaging contrast agents and photothermal therapeutic agents. The good imaging performance and PTT effect of HALF-cRGD in mice models indicate that the rational design and control of nanostructures could optimize multimodal imaging performance using the same components.

Molecularly Engineered Hierarchical Nanodisc from Antiparallel J‐stacked BODIPY Conjugates: Application to Theranostics with Mutually Beneficial Properties

“…Notably, to the best of our knowledge, our system demonstrates a better photothermal effect than previously reported PA/MR bimodal imaging agents. [ 27,28 ]…”

Biomimetic Nanocomposites Cloaked with Bioorthogonally Labeled Glioblastoma Cell Membrane for Targeted Multimodal Imaging of Brain Tumors

“…Firstly, ultrasmall iron oxide nanoparticles (UIONPs) with a diameter of 3.5 nm in tetrahydrofuran (THF) were synthesized following thermal decomposition method based on previous literatures. [ 19 ] To fabricate CPIO nanocomposites, 10 mL THF stock solution containing UIONPs (10 mg), conjugated polymer PDPP3T (5 mg), and PLGA (25 mg) was prepared. The stock solution was then mixed and put in water bath to sonicate for 10 min.…”

Nanoparticles as contrast agents for photoacoustic brain imaging

“…Furthermore, the distribution of iron oxide NPs and organic molecules in the formed nanostructure was also reported to affect the PA signal (Figure 9). 76 The unique nanostructure that physically separates the iron oxide NPs and the organic molecules can efficiently relieve fluorescence quenching, maintain high PAI performance, and magnify the MRI signals. Molecular dynamic simulations of the synthesized TC1 molecules in singular or aggregated molecular states unveiled that the fluorescence could be enhanced when the molecules are processed into NPs.…”