Serine‐ and mannose‐modified liposomal contrast agent for computed tomography: evaluation of the enhancement in rabbit liver VX‐2 tumor model

Abstract

Kupffer cell imaging is a powerful tool for the detection of liver cancer. This diagnostic procedure depends on the faculty of the reticuloendothelial system (RES) which takes up foreign bodies, including small particles. The current study aimed to develop a novel RES targeting liposomal contrast agent that functionalized with serine or mannose, the moiety specifically binding to a corresponding receptor on phagocytic cells. Liposomes loaded with non-ionic X-ray contrast media, Iohexol, were prepared by supercritical carbon dioxide reverse-phase evaporation method and were intravenously injected to healthy rabbits in order to evaluate the liver parenchymal enhancement in X-ray computed tomography (CT). From 10 to 40 min after injection, the mean enhancement value of the liver parenchyma approached 45 and 34 Hounsfield units (HU) when serine-modified iodinated liposomal contrast agent (ILCA) and mannose-modified ILCA were applied, respectively. The tumor-to-liver contrast values were also evaluated after the administration of the prepared ILCA to rabbits with VX-2 carcinoma. For serine-modified ILCA, tumor-to-liver contrast was 82 HU at 1 min and >24 HU at 10-40 min; for mannose-modified ILCA, the values were 58 HU at 0.5 min and >21 HU at 10-40 min. These vales estimated from the region of intrest and the imaging figures of liver indicate the potential of ILCA for clinical use.

Importance for experiments in human medicine of imaging modalities for macroanatomical and histological study of rabbit suprarenal glands

“…Our hypothesis motivated us to suggest that our results could be used as an anatomical imaging model for studying the CT anatomical features of the human suprarenal glands. These observations are in agreement with data of some authors (19,22,27) for the rabbit.…”

“…Some researchers (19,22,27) have investigated the capacity of some contrast agents for CT visualization of human abdominal organs. Therefore, they used the results of investigations in rabbits in their algorithms.…”

Evaluation of X‐ray tomography contrast agents: A review of production, protocols, and biological applications

“…Besides, more than 60% overall contrast enhancement was obtained. A similar investigation about visualization of VX2 liver tumor using iodine‐containing liposomes was performed by Leander, Zheng, Okada, and Krause as well (Krause, Schönborn, & Rupp, ; Leander, ; Okada et al, ; Zheng, Jaffray, & Allen, ). A comparative study on VX2 tumors was as follows: Zheng et al () investigated the liposomes to visualize and detected the localization of neoplastic tissues and tumors.…”

“…Okada, and Krause as well (Krause, Schönborn, & Rupp, 2011;Leander, 1996;Okada et al, 2010;Zheng, Jaffray, & Allen, 2009…”