Open AccessEvaluation of upconverting nanoparticles towards heart theranostics
Author(s) -
Marc Kermorgant,
Jennifer Ben Salem,
Julien Santelli,
Denis Calise,
Oster Anne-Cécile,
Olivier Lairez,
Coudret Christophe,
Marc Verelst,
Céline Galès,
Senard Jean-Michel,
Francis Beaudry,
Anne PavyLe Traon,
Clément Louis Roux,
Robert Mauricot,
Di. Arvanitis
Publication year - 2019
Publication title -
plos one
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.99
H-Index - 332
ISSN - 1932-6203
DOI - 10.1371/journal.pone.0225729
Subject(s) - nanomedicine , drug delivery , nanotechnology , nanomaterials , nanoparticle , materials science , drug , biomedical engineering , medicine , computer science , pharmacology
Restricted and controlled drug delivery to the heart remains a challenge giving frequent off-target effects as well as limited retention of drugs in the heart. There is a need to develop and optimize tools to allow for improved design of drug candidates for treatment of heart diseases. Over the last decade, novel drug platforms and nanomaterials were designed to confine bioactive materials to the heart. Yet, the research remains in its infancy, not only in the development of tools but also in the understanding of effects of these materials on cardiac function and tissue integrity. Upconverting nanoparticles are nanomaterials that recently accelerated interest in theranostic nanomedicine technologies. Their unique photophysical properties allow for sensitive in vivo imaging that can be combined with spatio-temporal control for targeted release of encapsulated drugs. Here we synthesized upconverting NaYF 4 :Yb,Tm nanoparticles and show for the first time their innocuity in the heart, when injected in the myocardium or in the pericardial space in mice. Nanoparticle retention and upconversion in the cardiac region did not alter heart rate variability, nor cardiac function as determined over a 15-day time course ensuing the sole injection. Altogether, our nanoparticles show innocuity primarily in the pericardial region and can be safely used for controlled spatiotemporal drug delivery. Our results support the use of upconverting nanoparticles as potential theranostics tools overcoming some of the key limitations associated with conventional experimental cardiology.