Croconaine-based nanoparticles enable efficient optoacoustic imaging of murine brain tumors

Nian Liu; Vipul Gujrati; Jaber Malekzadeh-Najafabadi; Juan Pablo Fuenzalida Werner; Uwe Klemm; Longguang Tang; Zhenyue Chen; Jaya Prakash; Yuanhui Huang; Andre Stiel; Gabriele Mettenleiter; Michaela Aichler; Andreas Blutke; Axel Walch; Karin Kleigrewe; Daniel Razansky; Michael Sattler; Vasilis Ntziachristos

Photoacoustics (Jun 2021)

Croconaine-based nanoparticles enable efficient optoacoustic imaging of murine brain tumors

Nian Liu,
Vipul Gujrati,
Jaber Malekzadeh-Najafabadi,
Juan Pablo Fuenzalida Werner,
Uwe Klemm,
Longguang Tang,
Zhenyue Chen,
Jaya Prakash,
Yuanhui Huang,
Andre Stiel,
Gabriele Mettenleiter,
Michaela Aichler,
Andreas Blutke,
Axel Walch,
Karin Kleigrewe,
Daniel Razansky,
Michael Sattler,
Vasilis Ntziachristos

Affiliations

Nian Liu: Chair of Biological Imaging, Center for Translational Cancer Research (TranslaTUM), School of Medicine, Technical University of Munich, Munich 81675, Germany; Institute of Biological and Medical Imaging, Helmholtz Zentrum München (GmbH), Neuherberg 85764, Germany
Vipul Gujrati: Chair of Biological Imaging, Center for Translational Cancer Research (TranslaTUM), School of Medicine, Technical University of Munich, Munich 81675, Germany; Institute of Biological and Medical Imaging, Helmholtz Zentrum München (GmbH), Neuherberg 85764, Germany; Corresponding authors at: Chair of Biological Imaging, Center for Translational Cancer Research (TranslaTUM), School of Medicine, Technical University of Munich, Munich 81675, Germany.
Jaber Malekzadeh-Najafabadi: Chair of Biological Imaging, Center for Translational Cancer Research (TranslaTUM), School of Medicine, Technical University of Munich, Munich 81675, Germany
Juan Pablo Fuenzalida Werner: Institute of Biological and Medical Imaging, Helmholtz Zentrum München (GmbH), Neuherberg 85764, Germany
Uwe Klemm: Institute of Biological and Medical Imaging, Helmholtz Zentrum München (GmbH), Neuherberg 85764, Germany
Longguang Tang: State Key Laboratory of Molecular Vaccinology and Molecular Diagnostics & Center for Molecular Imaging and Translational Medicine, School of Public Health, Xiamen University, Xiamen 361005, China
Zhenyue Chen: Institute for Biomedical Engineering and Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Zurich and ETH Zurich, Zurich 8093, Switzerland
Jaya Prakash: Institute of Biological and Medical Imaging, Helmholtz Zentrum München (GmbH), Neuherberg 85764, Germany; Department of Instrumentation and Applied Physics, Indian Institute of Science, C. V. Raman Road, Bengaluru 560012, India
Yuanhui Huang: Chair of Biological Imaging, Center for Translational Cancer Research (TranslaTUM), School of Medicine, Technical University of Munich, Munich 81675, Germany; Institute of Biological and Medical Imaging, Helmholtz Zentrum München (GmbH), Neuherberg 85764, Germany
Andre Stiel: Institute of Biological and Medical Imaging, Helmholtz Zentrum München (GmbH), Neuherberg 85764, Germany
Gabriele Mettenleiter: Research Unit Analytical Pathology, Helmholtz Zentrum München (GmbH), Neuherberg 85764, Germany
Michaela Aichler: Research Unit Analytical Pathology, Helmholtz Zentrum München (GmbH), Neuherberg 85764, Germany
Andreas Blutke: Research Unit Analytical Pathology, Helmholtz Zentrum München (GmbH), Neuherberg 85764, Germany
Axel Walch: Research Unit Analytical Pathology, Helmholtz Zentrum München (GmbH), Neuherberg 85764, Germany
Karin Kleigrewe: Bavarian Center for Biomolecular Mass Spectrometry (BayBioMS), Technical University of Munich, Freising 85354, Germany
Daniel Razansky: Institute for Biomedical Engineering and Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Zurich and ETH Zurich, Zurich 8093, Switzerland
Michael Sattler: Bavarian NMR Center and Center for Integrated Protein Science Munich, Department of Chemistry, Technical University of Munich, Garching 85747, Germany; Institute of Structural Biology, Helmholtz Zentrum München (GmbH), Neuherberg 85764, Germany
Vasilis Ntziachristos: Chair of Biological Imaging, Center for Translational Cancer Research (TranslaTUM), School of Medicine, Technical University of Munich, Munich 81675, Germany; Institute of Biological and Medical Imaging, Helmholtz Zentrum München (GmbH), Neuherberg 85764, Germany; Corresponding authors at: Chair of Biological Imaging, Center for Translational Cancer Research (TranslaTUM), School of Medicine, Technical University of Munich, Munich 81675, Germany.

Journal volume & issue: Vol. 22
p. 100263

Abstract

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Contrast enhancement in optoacoustic (photoacoustic) imaging can be achieved with agents that exhibit high absorption cross-sections, high photostability, low quantum yield, low toxicity, and preferential bio-distribution and clearance profiles. Based on advantageous photophysical properties of croconaine dyes, we explored croconaine-based nanoparticles (CR780RGD-NPs) as highly efficient contrast agents for targeted optoacoustic imaging of challenging preclinical tumor targets. Initial characterization of the CR780 dye was followed by modifications using polyethylene glycol and the cancer-targeting c(RGDyC) peptide, resulting in self-assembled ultrasmall particles with long circulation time and active tumor targeting. Preferential bio-distribution was demonstrated in orthotopic mouse brain tumor models by multispectral optoacoustic tomography (MSOT) imaging and histological analysis. Our findings showcase particle accumulation in brain tumors with sustainable strong optoacoustic signals and minimal toxic side effects. This work points to CR780RGD-NPs as a promising optoacoustic contrast agent for potential use in the diagnosis and image-guided resection of brain tumors.

Published in Photoacoustics

ISSN: 2213-5979 (Online)
Publisher: Elsevier
Country of publisher: Netherlands
LCC subjects: Science: Physics: Acoustics. Sound; Science: Physics: Optics. Light
Website: http://www.journals.elsevier.com/photoacoustics/

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