Hyaluronic acid-functionalized single-walled carbon nanotubes as tumor-targeting MRI contrast agent

Abstract

A tumor-targeting carrier, hyaluronic acid (HA)-functionalized single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs), was explored to deliver magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) contrast agents (CAs) targeting to the tumor cells specifically. In this system, HA surface modification for SWCNTs was simply accomplished by amidation process and could make this nanomaterial highly hydrophilic. Cellular uptake was performed to evaluate the intracellular transport capabilities of HA-SWCNTs for tumor cells and the uptake rank was HA-SWCNTs> SWCNTs owing to the presence of HA, which was also evidenced by flow cytometry. The safety evaluation of this MRI CAs was investigated in vitro and in vivo. It revealed that HA-SWCNTs could stand as a biocompatible nanocarrier and gadolinium (Gd)/HA-SWCNTs demonstrated almost no toxicity compared with free GdCl 3 . Moreover, GdCl 3 bearing HA-SWCNTs could significantly increase the circulation time for MRI. Finally, to investigate the MRI contrast enhancing capabilities of Gd/HA-SWCNTs, T 1 -weighted MR images of tumor-bearing mice were acquired. The results suggested Gd/HA-SWCNTs had the highest tumor-targeting efficiency and T 1 -relaxivity enhancement, indicating HA-SWCNTs could be developed as a tumor-targeting carrier to deliver the CAs, GdCl 3 , for the identifiable diagnosis of tumor.

Hyaluronic Acid-Conjugated Carbon Nanomaterials for Enhanced Tumour Targeting Ability

“…Characteristically, photothermal ablation is a faster process than chemotherapy, as the cells are instantly eradicated by the laser. Within the literature, this paper had the second highest M w of HA used, only behind a paper by Hou et al that had a HA M w of 12,000 kDa [ 99 ]. Interestingly, the cumulative dox release continued to increase up to 48 h under in vivo conditions to boast 100% of DOX released under pH 5.0 conditions in the presence of a laser.…”

Effective Photodynamic Therapy for Colon Cancer Cells Using Chlorin e6 Coated Hyaluronic Acid-Based Carbon Nanotubes

“…The FTIR spectra of SWCNTs, depicted as a black line spectrum, showed a strong carbon absorption bond peak of C=C at 2323 cm −1 , =C-H at 1980 cm −1 , and carboxyl bond stretching C=O at 1752 cm −1 [22]. In the brown line spectra, the board 3285 cm −1 stretching represents the amide bond and medium peaks at 1605 cm −1 and 608 cm −1 , the C-N minor stretching band observed at 1153 cm −1 [20] and 1040 cm −1 represents the functional group of COC of HA. The Ce6 spectrum depicted as a green line shows a strong stretching vibration peak of the carboxyl group at 1709 cm −1 [23], characteristics of O-H bands were observed at 3285 cm −1 and 1234 cm −1 , and the band range of 2964 cm −1 and 1432 cm −1 indicates the C-H bond.…”

“…The maximum absorbance peak for SWCNTs was recorded at 268 nm [19]. There was no characteristic peak for biopolymer HA in the range of 200-800 nm [20]. The photosensitizer Ce6 dissolved in the solvent DMF, which acted as a blank for all the samples, recorded three characteristic peaks, one maximum absorption peak at 405 nm and two peaks at 503 nm and 664 nm [21] (Figure 1).…”

Nanoparticles as a Tool in Neuro-Oncology Theranostics

“…Single wall carbon nanotubes (SWCNT) are the first example of the former. These agents have been transfected with molecules known to provide contrast on MRI, such as manganese [ 4 ], gadolinium [ 5 , 6 , 7 ], and iron oxide [ 8 , 9 , 10 ], in order to visualize tumor types including 4T1 breast carcinoma [ 4 , 8 , 9 , 10 ] and S180 sarcoma [ 5 , 6 , 7 ]. In a similar molecular sense, multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNT) have also been successfully utilized as carriers for iron oxide [ 11 , 12 , 13 , 14 , 15 ] and gadolinium [ 16 ].…”

“…Several studies have employed the attachment of a fluorescent dye to enhance NIR fluorescent capability of SWCNT. These include the addition of Alexa Fluor 594 to view ovarian carcinoma [ 76 ], cyanine 7 to view pancreatic carcinoma (BxPC-3 cell line) [ 67 ], cyanine 5.5 to view breast carcinoma (MCF-7 cell line) [ 77 ], IR-783 to view sarcoma (S180 cell line) [ 6 ], and DiR to view sarcoma (S180 cell line) [ 7 ].…”