Preclinical Evaluation of NHS-Activated Gold Nanoparticles Functionalized with Bombesin or Neurotensin-Like Peptides for Targeting Colon and Prostate Tumours
Livia Elena Chilug,
Dana Niculae,
Radu Anton Leonte,
Alexandrina Nan,
Rodica Turcu,
Cosmin Mustaciosu,
Radu Marian Serban,
Vasile Lavric,
Gina Manda
Affiliations
Livia Elena Chilug
Radiopharmaceutical Research Centre, Horia Hulubei National Institute for R&D in Physics and Nuclear Engineering, 30 Reactorului Street, Magurele, 077125 Ilfov, Romania
Dana Niculae
Radiopharmaceutical Research Centre, Horia Hulubei National Institute for R&D in Physics and Nuclear Engineering, 30 Reactorului Street, Magurele, 077125 Ilfov, Romania
Radu Anton Leonte
Radiopharmaceutical Research Centre, Horia Hulubei National Institute for R&D in Physics and Nuclear Engineering, 30 Reactorului Street, Magurele, 077125 Ilfov, Romania
Alexandrina Nan
National Institute for Research and Development of Isotopic and Molecular Technologies, 67–103 Donat Street, 400293 Cluj-Napoca, Romania
Rodica Turcu
National Institute for Research and Development of Isotopic and Molecular Technologies, 67–103 Donat Street, 400293 Cluj-Napoca, Romania
Cosmin Mustaciosu
Radiopharmaceutical Research Centre, Horia Hulubei National Institute for R&D in Physics and Nuclear Engineering, 30 Reactorului Street, Magurele, 077125 Ilfov, Romania
Radu Marian Serban
Radiopharmaceutical Research Centre, Horia Hulubei National Institute for R&D in Physics and Nuclear Engineering, 30 Reactorului Street, Magurele, 077125 Ilfov, Romania
Vasile Lavric
Faculty of Applied Chemistry and Materials Science, University Politehnica of Bucharest, 1–7 Polizu Street, 011061 Bucharest, Romania
Gina Manda
Victor Babes National Institute of Pathology, 99–101 Splaiul Independentei Street, 050096 Bucharest, Romania
Recent advances and large-scale use of hybrid imaging modalities like PET-CT have led to the necessity of improving nano-drug carriers that can facilitate both functional and metabolic screening in nuclear medicine applications. In this study, we focused on the evaluation of four potential imaging nanoparticle structures labelled with the 68Ga positron emitter. For this purpose, we functionalized NHS-activated PEG-gold nanoparticles with 68Ga-DOTA-Neuromedin B, 68Ga-DOTA-PEG(4)-BBN(7-14), 68Ga-DOTA-NT and 68Ga-DOTA-Neuromedin N. In vitro binding kinetics and specific binding to human HT-29 colon carcinoma cells and DU-145 prostate carcinoma cells respectively were assessed, over 75% retention being obtained in the case of 68Ga-DOTA-PEG(4)-BBN(7-14)-AuNP in prostate tumour cells and over 50% in colon carcinoma cells. Biodistribution in NU/J mice highlighted a three-fold uptake increase in tumours at 30 min post-injection of 68Ga-DOTA-NT-AuNP and 68Ga-DOTA-PEG(4)-BBN(7-14)-AuNP compared to 68Ga-DOTA-NT and 68Ga-DOTA-PEG(4)-BBN(7-14) respectively, therewith fast distribution in prostate and colon tumours and minimum accumulation in non-targeted tissues.
