Targeted nanodiamonds as phenotype-specific photoacoustic contrast agents for breast cancer.

Abstract

The aim is to develop irradiated nanodiamonds (INDs) as a molecularly targeted contrast agent for high-resolution and phenotype-specific detection of breast cancer with photoacoustic (PA) imaging. The surface of acid treated radiation-damaged nanodiamonds was grafted with PEG to improve its stability and circulation time in blood, followed by conjugation to an anti-HER2 peptide with a final nanoparticle size of approximately 92 nm. Immunocompetent mice bearing orthotopic HER2-positive or negative tumors were administered INDs and PA imaged using an 820-nm near-infrared laser. PA images demonstrated that INDs accumulate in tumors and completely delineated the entire tumor within 10 h. HER2 targeting significantly enhanced imaging of HER2-positive tumors. Pathological examination demonstrated INDs are nontoxic. PA technology is adaptable to low-cost bedside medicine, and with new contrast agents described herein, PA can achieve high-resolution (sub-mm) and phenotype-specific monitoring of cancer growth.

• Authors: Ti Zhang, Huizhong Cui, Chia-Yi Fang, Kun Cheng, Xinmai Yang, Huan-Cheng Chang, M Laird Forrest
• Journal: Nanomedicine (London, England) (Nanomedicine (Lond)) Vol. 10 Issue 4 Pg. 573-87 (Mar 2015) ISSN: 1748-6963 [Electronic] England
• PMID: 25723091 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)

Chemical References

• Contrast Media
• Nanodiamonds
• Receptor, ErbB-2

Topics

• Animals
• Breast (pathology)
• Breast Neoplasms (diagnosis, pathology)
• Cell Line, Tumor
• Contrast Media
• Female
• Humans
• Mice
• Nanodiamonds
• Photoacoustic Techniques (methods)
• Receptor, ErbB-2 (analysis)