Nanomaterial based Magnetic Resonance Imaging of Cancer

Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) is a widely used non-invasive medical tool for detection and diagnosis of cancer. In recent years, MRI has witnessed significant contributions from nanotechnology to incorporate advanced features such as multimodality of nanoparticles, therapeutic delivery, specific targeting and the optical detectability for molecular imaging. Accurate composition, right scheme of surface chemistry and properly designed structure is essential for achieving desired properties of nanomaterials such as non-fouling surface, high imaging contrast, chemical stability, target specificity and/or multimodality. This review provides an overview of the recent progress in theranostic nanomaterials in imaging and the development of nanomaterial based magnetic resonance imaging of cancer. In particular, targeted theranostics is a promising approach along with its targeting strategy in cancer treatment using MRI and multimodal imaging. We also discuss recent advances in integrin mediated targeted MRI of cancer

An ultra-stable redox-controlled self-assembling polypeptide nanotube for targeted imaging and therapy in cancer

We introduce a self-assembling polypeptide-based nanotube system having the ability to specifically target cancer cells. The nanotubes target the cancer cell surface through integrin engagement with the help of multiple RGD units present along their surface. While the nanotubes are non-toxic towards cells in general, they can be loaded with suitable drugs to be released in a sustained manner in cancer cells. In addition, the nanotubes can be utilized for cellular imaging using any covalently tagged fluorescent dye. They are stable over a wide range of temperature due to intermolecular disulphide bonds formed during the self-assembly process. At the same time, presence of disulphide bonds provides a redox molecular switch for their degradation. Taken together this system provides a unique avenue for multimodal formulation in cancer therapy

Spent embryo culture medium metabolites are related to the in vitro attachment ability of blastocysts

The metabolomic profile of an embryo culture medium can aid in the advanced prediction of embryonic developmental potential and genetic integrity. But it is not known if this technology can be used to determine the in vitro potential of inner cell mass (lCM) in adherence and proliferation. Here, we investigated the developmental potential of mouse 2-cell embryos carrying cisplatin-induced DNA lesions (lDL), beyond blastocyst stage using ICM outgrowth assay. The genetic integrity of ICM cells was determined by comet assay. The metabolic signatures of spent medium were recorded 84 hours post injection of hCG (hpi- hCG), and after 96 hours of extended in vitro culture (Ex 96) by NMR spectroscopy. We observed that blastocysts that lack the ability to adhere in vitro had an increased requirement of pyruvate (p < 0.01), lactate (p < 0.01), and were accompanied by a significant reduction of pyruvatealanine ratio in the culture medium. We propose that the aforementioned metabolites from 84 hpi-hCG spent medium be further explored using appropriate experimental models, to prove their potential as biomarkers in the prediction of implantation ability of in vitro derived human embryos in clinical settings

Principal component analysis bi-plot for comparing the relative metabolite intensities of IVF and ICSI derived sibling embryos.

PCA plot (PC1 vs PC2) of SCM demonstrated random distribution of metabolites between IVF and ICSI derived embryos. Each dot represents a single sample. Blue dots (●) represents IVF derived SCM whereas orange dots (●) represents ICSI derived SCM.</p

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(XLSX)</p

Comparison of the relative intensities of SCM metabolites (normalized to TSP) with TUNEL index.

(DOCX)</p

Comparison of the relative intensities between IVF and ICSI derived embryo SCM metabolites (normalized to TSP) along with medium control metabolites.

Data represented in mean ± SD.</p

Representative figure of 1D ¹H NMR spectrum of the one-step embryo culture medium used in this study.

The figure elucidates the assignment of peaks for different metabolites. X-axis represents the chemical shift in parts per million.</p

Comparison of the relative intensities of embryo SCM metabolites (normalized to TSP) with sperm head defects.

(DOCX)</p

Patient’s demographics and clinical characteristics.

Patient’s demographics and clinical characteristics.</p