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A Functional CT Contrast Agent for In Vivo Imaging of Tumor Hypoxia
Author(s) -
Shi Hongyuan,
Wang Zhiming,
Huang Chusen,
Gu Xiaoli,
Jia Ti,
Zhang Amin,
Wu Zhiyuan,
Zhu Lan,
Luo Xianfu,
Zhao Xuesong,
Jia Nengqin,
Miao Fei
Publication year - 2016
Publication title -
small
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 3.785
H-Index - 236
eISSN - 1613-6829
pISSN - 1613-6810
DOI - 10.1002/smll.201601029
Subject(s) - hypoxia (environmental) , tumor hypoxia , nanoprobe , in vivo , magnetic resonance imaging , nitroreductase , preclinical imaging , positron emission tomography , tumor microenvironment , cancer research , pathology , materials science , medicine , chemistry , biomedical engineering , radiology , nanoparticle , biology , pharmacology , nanotechnology , tumor cells , radiation therapy , oxygen , prodrug , microbiology and biotechnology , organic chemistry
Hypoxia, which has been well established as a key feature of the tumor microenvironment, significantly influences tumor behavior and treatment response. Therefore, imaging for tumor hypoxia in vivo is warranted. Although some imaging modalities for detecting tumor hypoxia have been developed, such as magnetic resonance imaging, positron emission tomography, and optical imaging, these technologies still have their own specific limitations. As computed tomography (CT) is one of the most useful imaging tools in terms of availability, efficiency, and convenience, the feasibility of using a hypoxia‐sensitive nanoprobe (Au@BSA‐NHA) for CT imaging of tumor hypoxia is investigated, with emphasis on identifying different levels of hypoxia in two xenografts. The nanoprobe is composed of Au nanoparticles and nitroimidazole moiety which can be electively reduced by nitroreductase under hypoxic condition. In vitro, Au@BSA‐NHA attain the higher cellular uptake under hypoxic condition. Attractively, after in vivo administration, Au@BSA‐NHA can not only monitor the tumor hypoxic environment with CT enhancement but also detect the hypoxic status by the degree of enhancement in two xenograft tumors with different hypoxic levels. The results demonstrate that Au@BSA‐NHA may potentially be used as a sensitive CT imaging agent for detecting tumor hypoxia.