Size Dependent Kinetics of Gold Nanorods in EPR Mediated Tumor Delivery

Abstract

Gold nanorods (AuNR) have been intensively used in nanomedicine for cancer diagnostics and therapy, due to their excellent plasmonic photothermal properties. Tuning the size and aspect ratio of AuNR tailors the localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR) in the NIR spectrum at which biological tissues are transparent, thus enables specific and effective treatment. The AuNR extravasates into tumor interstitium through enhanced permeation and retention (EPR) effect. Efficient AuNR based cancer therapy requires efficient AuNR tumor delivery. However, the size of AuNR can dramatically affect its blood circulation and tumor accumulation. Here we proposed for the first time a systematic framework to investigate the size-dependent kinetics of AuNRs during EPR mediated tumor delivery. By using 64Cu-labeled AuNRs with positron emission tomography (PET) and kinetic modeling, the in vivo uptake and kinetics of 64Cu-AuNR during its blood circulation, tumor accumulation and elimination were studied both in vitro and in vivo. The results of different sized AuNRs were compared and the optimum size of AuNR was suggested for EPR mediated tumor delivery. Our study provides a better understanding of the in vivo behavior of AuNR, which can help future design of nanomaterials for cancer imaging and therapy.

Feasibility of USPIOs for T1-weighted MR molecular imaging of tumor receptors

“…RAD-Tc-PAA@USPIOs was also found in the tumors, though to a lesser extent, which indicated nonspecic uptake due to the enhanced permeation and retention (EPR) effect. 53 To identify the physical conditions of the probes in tumors, TEM examinations of tumor tissues were also performed (Fig. 6A).…”

Actively Targeted Deep Tissue Imaging and Photothermal‐Chemo Therapy of Breast Cancer by Antibody‐Functionalized Drug‐Loaded X‐Ray‐Responsive Bismuth Sulfide@Mesoporous Silica Core–Shell Nanoparticles

“…[2] Currently, many studies have adopted passive targeting strategies, based on the enhanced permeability and retention (EPR) effect, to target nanoparticles (NPs) to tumors. [3] However, the passive targeting strategies are still limited by tumor types. [4] Modifying NPs with peptides [5] or antibodies [6,7] has been proposed to effectively solve the above problems because it further enhanced the accumulation in tumor sites.…”

Gold Nanoparticles and Nanorods in Nuclear Medicine: A Mini Review

“…PEG-modified AuNRs show a nearly neutral surface and have little in vivo cytotoxicity. The application of AuNRs in nuclear medicine has attracted great interest in the last few years [91,95,114].…”