Affiliations: [a] State Key Laboratory of Oncogenes and Related Genes, Shanghai Cancer Institute, Renji Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, People’s Republic of China | [b] Department of Ultrasound, Xinhua Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiaotong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, People’s Republic of China
Correspondence:
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Corresponding authors: Yourong Duan; Ying Sun, No. 25, Lane 2200, Xietu Road, Xuhui District Shanghai, Shanghai, 200032 China. E-mail: yrduan@shsci.org (Yourong Duan); ysun@shsci.org (Ying Sun) and Yaqing Chen, Xinhua Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiaotong University School of Medicine, 1665 Kongjiang Road, Shanghai 200092 China. E-mail: chenyaqing@xinhuamed.com.cn.
Note: [#] These authors contributed equally to this work.
Abstract: BACKGROUND:Molecular targeted contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) imaging is a potential imaging strategy to improve the diagnostic accuracy of conventional ultrasound (US) imaging. US contrast agents are usually micrometer-sized and non-target gas bubbles while nano-sized and targeted agents containing phase-shift materials absorb more attractions for their size and the liquid core and excellent molecular imaging effect. METHODS:PLGA12k-mPEG2k-NH2, DSPE-mPEG2k and perfluorohexan (PFH) were used to construct a new targeted ultrasound contrast agent with CUB domain-containing protein 1 (CDCP1) receptor for the detection and diagnosis of prostate cancer. The potential of tumor-targeted nanoparticles (CDCP1-targeted perfluorohexan-loaded phase-transitional nanoparticles, anti-CDCP1 NPs) as contrast agents for ultrasound (US) imaging was assessed in vitro. Moreover, studies on the cytotoxicity and the targeting ability of anti-CDCP1 NPs assisted by US were carried out. RESULTS:The results showed that anti-CDCP1 NPs had low cytotoxicity, and with the increasing of polymer concentration in anti-CDCP1 NPs, the CEUS imaging of agent gradually enhanced, and enhanced imaging associated with the length of observing time. Furthermore, it was testified that anti-CDCP1 assisted the agent to target cells expressing CDCP1, which demonstrated the active targeting of anti-CDCP1 NPs in vitro. CONCLUSION:All in all, the feasibility of using targeted anti-CDCP1 NPs to enhance ultrasound imaging has been demonstrated in vitro, which laid a solid foundation for molecular US imaging in vivo, and anti-CDCP1 NPs might have a great clinical application prospect.
Keywords: Targeted nanoparticle, contrast agent, prostate cancer
