Optimization of superfluorinated PLGA nanoparticles for enhanced cell labelling and detection by 19F-MRI

Pivotal role of the protein corona in the cell uptake of fluorinated nanoparticles with increased sensitivity for 19F-MR imaging

“…Physico-chemical characterization of 19 F-PLGA NPs 19 F-PLGA NPs were stabilized by sodium cholate (NaC), polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) or chitosan (CS), to obtain NPs with different surface properties. 40 While 19 F-PLGA-NaC and 19 F-PLGA-PVA NPs were formulated following an established procedure, 15 an initial study was dedicated to optimize the preparation protocol of positively charged NPs, which should exhibit a higher electrostatic interaction with the negatively charged cell membrane. 20,41,42 The optimization was carried out to obtain small and positively charged 19 F-PLGA-PVA-CS NPs with a homogeneous size distribution, a ne colloidal stability and high PERFECTA loading (ESI, Section 1.2 and Fig.…”

“…19 F–PLGA NPs were formulated using an optimized protocol previously reported. 15 Briefly, PERFECTA was firstly dissolved in 1.5 ml of EtOAc and then heated at 65 °C. PLGA was dissolved in the same organic solvent (1.5 ml) and heated at 65 °C.…”

“…In this respect, we previously reported that a superuorinated molecule, named PERFECTA, showed ideal chemical and structural properties for 19 F-MRI for improving imaging sensitivity, thanks to its large number of 19 F atoms per molecule. [12][13][14][15] Importantly, the 36 19 F atoms are symmetrically distributed in this molecule resulting in intense MRI signals at a specic and unique chemical shi. 12 In addition to a high 19 F payload, the physicochemical properties of the formulation, necessary to disperse these uorinated molecules in physiological solutions as 19 F-NPs, could be tuned to obtain optimal internalization by cells without affecting their functionality.…”