International Journal of Nanomedicine (Dec 2016)
Anti-MUC1 nano-aptamers for triple-negative breast cancer imaging by single-photon emission computed tomography in inducted animals: initial considerations
Abstract
Fagner Santos do Carmo,1,2 Eduardo Ricci-Junior,3 Cristal Cerqueira-Coutinho,4 Marta de Souza Albernaz,1,5 Emerson Soares Bernardes,6 Sotiris Missailidis,7 Ralph Santos-Oliveira2 1Rio de Janeiro State University, Biology Institute Roberto Alcantara Gomes, 2Brazilian Nuclear Energy Commission, Nuclear Engineering Institute, 3Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Faculty of Pharmacy, 4Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Institute of Macromolecules Eloisa Mano, 5University Hospital Clementino Fraga Filho, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, 6Instituto de Pesquisas Energéticas e Nucleares, Centro de Radiofarmácia, São Paulo, 7Institute of Technology in Immunobiologics Bio-Manguinhos, Oswaldo Cruz Foundation (Fiocruz), Rio de Janeiro, Brazil Abstract: The early and specific detection of tumors remains a barrier in oncology, especially in cases such as the triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC). To address this gap, aptamers have found an important application in the recognition of tumor biomarkers such as mucin 1 (MUC1). However, there are still some difficulties in the use of aptamer, as their rapid biological clearance makes their use as drugs limited. In this study, the anti-MUC1 aptamer was used as a drug delivery system (DDS) for a radioactive polymeric nanoparticle (NP) in the imaging of TNBCs. Thus, poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) NPs loaded with the anti-MUC1 aptamer and labeled with technetium-99m were used for a biodistribution study and imaging of TNBC. The results confirmed that the NP was successfully obtained, with a mean size of 262 nm, according to the dynamic light scattering data. The biodistribution assay in induced animal models with TNBC showed that although there was a high capture by intestine (>30%), the DDS developed had a high tumor uptake (5%) and with great in vivo imaging properties, corroborating the possibility of use of this DDS as an imaging drug for TNBC. Keywords: aptamer, cancer control, imaging, nuclear medicine, radiopharmacy
