Self-assembled gemcitabine–gadolinium nanoparticles for magnetic resonance imaging and cancer therapy

Abstract

Nanoparticles with combined diagnostic and therapeutic functions are promising tools for cancer diagnosis and treatment. Here, we demonstrate a theranostic nanoparticle that integrates an active gemcitabine metabolite and a gadolinium-based magnetic resonance imaging agent via a facile supramolecular self-assembly synthesis, where the anti-cancer drug gemcitabine-5′-monophosphate (a phosphorylated active metabolite of the anti-cancer drug gemcitabine) was used to coordinate with Gd(III) to self-assemble into theranostic nanoparticles. The formulation exhibits a strong T1 contrast signal for magnetic resonance imaging of tumors in vivo, with enhanced retention time. Furthermore, the nanoparticles did not require other inert nanocarriers or excipients and thus had an exceptionally high drug loading (55 wt%), resulting in the inhibition of MDA-MB-231 tumor growth in mice.

Core-Shell Nanostars for Multimodal Therapy and Imaging

“…S1 for the structure) and Gd(III), a coordination complex we have reported recently 33. Gd(III) was used because of its coordination flexibility and its function as an MRI contrast agent 34.…”

Magnetic Resonance Imaging and Spectroscopy in Cancer Theranostic Imaging

“…15 These nanoparticles, formed by supramolecular assembly, combined the anticancer drug gemcitabine-5-monosphosphate for therapy with gadolinium for MR imaging. Efficient delivery of the particles was detected in vivo by MRI resulting in a significant reduction of tumor growth.…”

“…Efficient delivery of the particles was detected in vivo by MRI resulting in a significant reduction of tumor growth. 15 Tumor growth control improved with the nanoparticle compared to administration of gemcitabine-5-monosphosphate alone.…”

Iron oxide and gold nanoparticles in cancer therapy

“…Over the last decade, much attention has been devoted to the development of superparamagnetic iron oxide (SPIO) NPs as contrast agents for MRI [6,9,10,16,24,51]. Experiments are also going on with superparamagnetic Gd as a contrast agent [24]. In [52] Gd was deposited on single wall carbon nanotubes for MRI and hyperthermia therapy.…”

“…Despite rapid developments of diagnostic techniques, surgery techniques, pharmaceutical chemistry and chemotherapy, detection and therapy of cancer at the initial stage remains a major challenge. In the last decade, great attention has been focused on development of nanoparticles and nanoparticle-targeting molecules systems for drug delivery [1][2][3][4][5][6][7][8][9][10][11][12][13][14], hyperthermia tumor treatment [15][16][17][18][19] and MRI-magnetic resonance imaging diagnostics [20][21][22][23][24]. New approaches were successfully introduces in cancer therapy.…”