99mTc-labeled keratin gold-nanoparticles in a nephron-like microfluidic chip for photo-thermal therapy applications

V. Frantellizzi; V. Verrina; C. Raso; M. Pontico; F. Petronella; V. Bertana; A. Ballesio; S.L. Marasso; S. Miglietta; P. Rosa; S. Scibetta; V. Petrozza; M.S. De Feo; G. De Vincentis; A. Calogero; R. Pani; G. Perotto; L. De Sio

Materials Today Advances (Dec 2022)

99mTc-labeled keratin gold-nanoparticles in a nephron-like microfluidic chip for photo-thermal therapy applications

V. Frantellizzi,
V. Verrina,
C. Raso,
M. Pontico,
F. Petronella,
V. Bertana,
A. Ballesio,
S.L. Marasso,
S. Miglietta,
P. Rosa,
S. Scibetta,
V. Petrozza,
M.S. De Feo,
G. De Vincentis,
A. Calogero,
R. Pani,
G. Perotto,
L. De Sio

Affiliations

V. Frantellizzi: Department of Radiological Sciences, Oncology and Anatomical Pathology, Sapienza University of Rome, Viale Regina Elena 324, 00161, Rome, Italy
V. Verrina: Department of Medico-Surgical Sciences and Biotechnologies - Research Center for Biophotonics, Sapienza University of Rome, Corso della Repubblica 79, 04100 Latina, Italy
C. Raso: Department of Medico-Surgical Sciences and Biotechnologies - Research Center for Biophotonics, Sapienza University of Rome, Corso della Repubblica 79, 04100 Latina, Italy
M. Pontico: Department of Radiological Sciences, Oncology and Anatomical Pathology, Sapienza University of Rome, Viale Regina Elena 324, 00161, Rome, Italy
F. Petronella: Institute of Crystallography CNR-IC, National Research Council of Italy, Via Salaria Km 29, 300, 00015 Monterotondo, Rome, Italy
V. Bertana: Chilab-Materials and Microsystems Laboratory, Department of Applied Science and Technology (DISAT), Politecnico Di Torino, Via Lungo Piazza d’Armi 6, 10034 Chivasso (Turin), Italy
A. Ballesio: Chilab-Materials and Microsystems Laboratory, Department of Applied Science and Technology (DISAT), Politecnico Di Torino, Via Lungo Piazza d’Armi 6, 10034 Chivasso (Turin), Italy
S.L. Marasso: Chilab-Materials and Microsystems Laboratory, Department of Applied Science and Technology (DISAT), Politecnico Di Torino, Via Lungo Piazza d’Armi 6, 10034 Chivasso (Turin), Italy; Institute of Materials for Electronics and Magnetism, IMEM-CNR, Parco Area delle Scienze 37/A, 43124 Parma, Italy
S. Miglietta: Department of Anatomy, Histology, Forensic Medicine and Orthopaedics, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
P. Rosa: Department of Medico-Surgical Sciences and Biotechnologies - Research Center for Biophotonics, Sapienza University of Rome, Corso della Repubblica 79, 04100 Latina, Italy
S. Scibetta: Department of Medico-Surgical Sciences and Biotechnologies - Research Center for Biophotonics, Sapienza University of Rome, Corso della Repubblica 79, 04100 Latina, Italy
V. Petrozza: Department of Medico-Surgical Sciences and Biotechnologies - Research Center for Biophotonics, Sapienza University of Rome, Corso della Repubblica 79, 04100 Latina, Italy
M.S. De Feo: Department of Radiological Sciences, Oncology and Anatomical Pathology, Sapienza University of Rome, Viale Regina Elena 324, 00161, Rome, Italy
G. De Vincentis: Department of Radiological Sciences, Oncology and Anatomical Pathology, Sapienza University of Rome, Viale Regina Elena 324, 00161, Rome, Italy
A. Calogero: Department of Medico-Surgical Sciences and Biotechnologies - Research Center for Biophotonics, Sapienza University of Rome, Corso della Repubblica 79, 04100 Latina, Italy
R. Pani: Department of Medico-Surgical Sciences and Biotechnologies - Research Center for Biophotonics, Sapienza University of Rome, Corso della Repubblica 79, 04100 Latina, Italy
G. Perotto: Smart Materials, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, via Morego 30, 16163 Genoa, Italy
L. De Sio: Department of Medico-Surgical Sciences and Biotechnologies - Research Center for Biophotonics, Sapienza University of Rome, Corso della Repubblica 79, 04100 Latina, Italy; CNR-Lab. Licryl, Institute NANOTEC, Arcavacata di Rende, 87036, Italy; Corresponding author.

Journal volume & issue: Vol. 16
p. 100286

Abstract

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Biocompatible gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) are particularly interesting for photo-thermal therapy (PTT) of cancer treatment because of their ability to convert light into heating efficiently. Nevertheless, the random accumulation of AuNPs in tissues, mainly determined by their retention time in the bloodstream, is one of the main limiting factors for their use in PTT applications. For this reason, efficient targeting and monitoring of AuNPs in the selected tissues is of paramount importance. This manuscript reports on a new generation of 99mTc-labeled AuNPs coated with keratin (Ker-AuNPs) and their spatial localization investigated by nuclear imaging techniques on an animal-free model. The effective radiolabeling of Ker-AuNPs with 99mTc is achieved using the chelating agent diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid (DTPA), resulting in the 99mTc-DTPA-Ker-AuNPs nanoconjugate. The 99mTc-DTPA-Ker-AuNPs display a radiochemical purity of 90.7% and excellent photo-thermal properties. In addition, the biocompatibility of the 99mTc-DTPA-Ker-AuNPs with healthy human embryonic kidney (HEK293T) cells is shown. A Lab-On-a-Chip (LoC) approach is used to localize and study the stability of 99mTc-DTPA-Ker-AuNPs under dynamic conditions. To this end, the nanoconjugates are injected into a polydimethylsiloxane microfluidic chip mimicking the renal filtering unit, the nephron, and monitored via radio-imaging and thermo-optical experiments. These detailed studies establish that DTPA-assisted 99mTc-labeled Ker-AuNPs are excellent candidates as biocompatible and non-invasive radiolabeled nanotherapeutic for PTT-based applications.

Published in Materials Today Advances

ISSN: 2590-0498 (Online)
Publisher: Elsevier
Country of publisher: United Kingdom
LCC subjects: Technology: Electrical engineering. Electronics. Nuclear engineering: Materials of engineering and construction. Mechanics of materials
Website: https://www.journals.elsevier.com/materials-today-advances

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