Open AccessMolecular magnetic resonance probe targeting VEGF165: preparation and in vitro and in vivo evaluation
Author(s) -
You XiaoGuang,
Tu Rong,
Peng MingLi,
Bai YuJie,
Tan Mingqian,
Li HanJian,
Guan Jing,
Wen LiJun
Publication year - 2014
Publication title -
contrast media & molecular imaging
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.714
H-Index - 50
eISSN - 1555-4317
pISSN - 1555-4309
DOI - 10.1002/cmmi.1584
Subject(s) - aptamer , in vivo , in vitro , umbilical vein , molecular imaging , molecular probe , chemistry , conjugate , vascular endothelial growth factor , magnetic resonance imaging , preclinical imaging , cancer research , microbiology and biotechnology , biophysics , medicine , biology , biochemistry , vegf receptors , dna , mathematical analysis , mathematics , radiology
A new method for imaging the tumor human vascular endothelial growth factor 165 (VEGF 165) is presented. A magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) probe was prepared by crosslinking ultrasmall superparamagnetic iron oxide (USPIO) nanoparticles to the aptamer for tumor vascular endothelial growth factor 165 (VEGF165‐aptamer). The molecular probe was evaluated for its in vitro and in vivo activities toward VEGF165. Enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay showed that the VEGF165‐aptamer–USPIO nanoparticles conjugate specifically binds to VEGF165 in vitro . A cell proliferation test showed that VEGF165‐aptamer–USPIO seems to block the proliferation of human umbilical vein endothelial cells induced by free VEGF165, suggesting that VEGF165 is an effective target of this molecular probe. In xenograft mice carrying liver cancer that expresses VEGF165, T 2 ‐weighted imaging of the tumor displayed marked negative enhancement 3 h after the intravenous administration of VEGF165‐aptamer–USPIO. The enhancement disappeared 6 h after administration of the probe. These results suggest the targeted imaging effect of VEGF165‐aptamer–USPIO probe in vivo for VEGF165‐expressing tumors. This is the first report of a targeted MRI molecular probe based on USPIO and VEGF165‐aptamer. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.