Sight and switch off: Nerve density visualization for interventions targeting nerves in prostate cancer

Abstract

Nerve density is associated with prostate cancer (PCa) aggressiveness and prognosis. Thus far, no visualization methods have been developed to assess nerve density of PCa in vivo. We compounded propranolol-conjugated superparamagnetic iron oxide nerve peptide nanoparticles (PSN NPs), which achieved the nerve density visualization of PCa with high sensitivity and high specificity, and facilitated assessment of nerve density and aggressiveness of PCa using magnetic resonance imaging and magnetic particle imaging. Moreover, PSN NPs facilitated targeted therapy for PCa. PSN NPs increased the survival rate of mice with orthotopic PCa to 83.3% and decreased nerve densities and proliferation indexes by more than twofold compared with the control groups. The present study, thus, developed a technology to visualize the nerve density of PCa and facilitate targeted neural drug delivery to tumors to efficiently inhibit PCa progression. Our study provides a potential basis for clinical imaging and therapeutic interventions targeting nerves in PCa.

Recent Advances in Intraoperative Nerve Bioimaging: Fluorescence‐Guided Surgery for Nerve Preservation

“…Given this, Tian's group labeled superparamagnetic iron oxide NPs (SPIO NPs) with NP41 and visualized the nerve density of prostate cancer. [46] These methods provide high-SNR imaging of nerve compared to muscle or adipose tissue, but they still have defects. The biggest problem for fluorescent NPs, especially metal NPs, is the nonspecific uptake by immune cells, resulting in long-term retention in the reticuloendothelial system (RES), such as the liver, spleen, and bones, which may become a hidden danger to patients.…”

“…Given this, Tian's group labeled superparamagnetic iron oxide NPs (SPIO NPs) with NP41 and visualized the nerve density of prostate cancer. [ 46 ]…”

Magnetic iron oxide nanomaterials: A key player in cancer nanomedicine

“…(C) Comparison of MPI signal of nerve density in prostate cancer 24 h postsystemic injection of SPIONs with PSN and without PS active targeting ligand. Reproduced with permission 67 . Copyright 2020, American Association for the Advancement of Science.…”

“…For example, nerve‐binding peptide (NP41)‐decorated SPIONs have been used for the detection of nerve density in prostate cancer, which showed much stronger MPI signal than the bare SPIONs (Figure 2C). 67 Notably, magnetothermal therapy could be integrated with MPI to construct a SPIONs‐based theranostic platform. The pioneer work was demonstrated by Tay et al.…”

The Applications of Magnetic Particle Imaging: From Cell to Body

“…Research on MPI applications in various fields has made obvious progress in the development of MPI theory and instruments. Currently, because MPI can locate and quantify the imaging tracer and has no restrictions on penetration depth, its suggested applications mainly include multimodal imaging [ 3 , 22 ], cell tracing [ 3 , 40 , 41 , 42 , 43 , 44 , 45 , 46 ], inflammation tracing [ 47 ], drug delivery and monitoring [ 48 , 49 ], blood pool imaging [ 50 , 51 , 52 , 53 ], tumor detection [ 22 , 44 , 54 , 55 ], and arbitrary localization of magnetic hyperthermia [ 46 , 56 , 57 , 58 , 59 ]. In this review, we discuss four categories of applications in which most current MPI research studied: cell tracking, tumor detection, blood pool imaging, and hyperthermia.…”