Hard-Shelled Glycol Chitosan Nanoparticles for Dual MRI/US Detection of Drug Delivery/Release: A Proof-of-Concept Study
Simona Baroni,
Monica Argenziano,
Francesca La Cava,
Marco Soster,
Francesca Garello,
David Lembo,
Roberta Cavalli,
Enzo Terreno
Affiliations
Simona Baroni
Molecular and Preclinical Imaging Centers, Department of Molecular Biotechnology and Health Sciences, University of Torino, Via Nizza 52, 10126 Torino, Italy
Monica Argenziano
Department of Drug Science and Technology, University of Torino, Via P. Giuria 9, 10125 Torino, Italy
Francesca La Cava
Molecular and Preclinical Imaging Centers, Department of Molecular Biotechnology and Health Sciences, University of Torino, Via Nizza 52, 10126 Torino, Italy
Marco Soster
Department of Drug Science and Technology, University of Torino, Via P. Giuria 9, 10125 Torino, Italy
Francesca Garello
Molecular and Preclinical Imaging Centers, Department of Molecular Biotechnology and Health Sciences, University of Torino, Via Nizza 52, 10126 Torino, Italy
David Lembo
Department of Clinical and Biological Sciences, University of Torino, S. Luigi Gonzaga Hospital, Regione Gonzole, 10, 10043 Orbassano, Italy
Roberta Cavalli
Department of Drug Science and Technology, University of Torino, Via P. Giuria 9, 10125 Torino, Italy
Enzo Terreno
Molecular and Preclinical Imaging Centers, Department of Molecular Biotechnology and Health Sciences, University of Torino, Via Nizza 52, 10126 Torino, Italy
This paper describes a novel nanoformulation for dual MRI/US in vivo monitoring of drug delivery/release. The nanosystem was made of a perfluoropentane core coated with phospholipids stabilized by glycol chitosan crosslinked with triphosphate ions, and it was co-loaded with the prodrug prednisolone phosphate (PLP) and the structurally similar MRI agent Gd-DTPAMA-CHOL. Importantly, the in vitro release of PLP and Gd-DTPAMA-CHOL from the nanocarrier showed similar profiles, validating the potential impact of the MRI agent as an imaging reporter for the drug release. On the other hand, the nanobubbles were also detectable by US imaging both in vitro and in vivo. Therefore, the temporal evolution of both MRI and US contrast after the administration of the proposed nanosystem could report on the delivery and the release kinetics of the transported drug in a given lesion.
