Enhanced Photoacoustic Signal of Passion Fruit-Like Nanoarchitectures in a Biological Environment

Abstract

Photoacoustic imaging (PAI) is a promising noninvasive technique for molecular and cellular characterization of cancer. Cancer detection by PAI is an area of active research, and the recent advent of contrast agents based on near-infrared (NIR)-absorbing dyes or organic/inorganic nanoparticles tremendously improved the specificity and the signal contrast. Here we report the photoacoustic (PA) signal enhancement produced by biodegradable passion fruit-like nanoarchitectures in phantoms and ex vivo. By this approach, the synergistic interaction between commercial NIR-fluorophores and ultrasmall metal nanoparticles is exploited to produce a PA signal enhancement in the biological window. Moreover, the degradation of the nanoarchitectures is investigated in physiological environment as reference matrix.

Biodegradable Ultrasmall‐in‐Nano Gold Architectures: Mid‐Period In Vivo Distribution and Excretion Assessment

“…It is worth to remember here that the quantitative assessment of metal clearance has been conducted on standard NAs comprising gold USNPs, in order to focus on the biodegradation and metal excretion. On the other hand, due to the robustness of the synthetic protocol, moieties of interest such as dyes or drugs can be straightforwardly incorporated in NAs in order to produce biodegradable all‐in‐one nanoplatforms . Biodistribution and excretion behaviors of nanomaterials are strictly dependent on their HD rather than their physical size.…”

“…Thus, NAs can effectively bypass the persistence concern, disassembling in potentially renal clearable building blocks. On this regard, biodegradation mechanisms have been comprehensively investigated through electron microscopy in our previous works, demonstrating that NAs (bio)degrade in less than 48 h in: i) full human serum, ii) human pancreatic carcinoma cultured cells, and iii) full human blood (Figure S3, Supporting Information) . Here, in order to evaluate the excretion of NAs by biliary and renal pathways and the relative biodistribution in the excretory system organs, the investigation was performed as summarized in Figure B.…”

“…On the other hand, due to the robustness of the synthetic protocol, moieties of interest such as dyes or drugs can be straightforwardly incorporated in NAs in order to produce biodegradable all-in-one nanoplatforms. [11,12,14] Biodistribution and excretion behaviors of nanomaterials are strictly dependent on their HD rather than their physical size. Thus, DLS measurements were performed on NAs dispersed in 50% bovine serum solutions ( Figure S2, Supporting Information).…”

“…NAs are composed of 100 nm hollow silica nanocapsules comprising plasmonic gold USNPs embedded in a polymeric functional matrix, resembling this exotic fruit . Remarkably, NAs biodegrade in both physiological fluids and cellular environment in less than 48 h to polymers, endogenous glutathione (GSH)‐coated plasmonic gold USNPs, and silicic acid . NAs have been designed with the overarching goal of shifting the paradigms in cancer treatment.…”

“…[9,10] Remarkably, NAs biodegrade in both physiological fluids and cellular environment in less than 48 h to polymers, endogenous glutathione (GSH)-coated plasmonic gold USNPs, and silicic acid. [11,12] NAs have been designed with the overarching goal of shifting the paradigms in cancer treatment. In NAs, every component has an essential therapeutic and/or diagnostic role.…”