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microPET-based biodistribution of quantum dots in living mice
Meike L Schipper1, Zhen Cheng, Sheen-Woo Lee
1Departments of Radiology and Bioengineering, Bio-X Program, Molecular Imaging Program at Stanford (MIPS), Stanford University, East 150 Clark Center, Palo Alto, CA 94305, USA.
Unlabelled:
This study evaluates the quantitative biodistribution of commercially available CdSe quantum dots (QD) in mice.
Methods:
(64)Cu-Labeled 800- or 525-nm emission wavelength QD (21- or 12-nm diameter), with or without 2,000 MW (molecular weight) polyethylene glycol (PEG), were injected intravenously into mice (5.55 MBq/25 pmol QD) and studied using well counting or by serial microPET and region-of-interest analysis.
Results:
Both methods show rapid uptake by the liver (27.4-38.9 %ID/g) (%ID/g is percentage injected dose per gram tissue) and spleen (8.0-12.4 %ID/g). Size has no influence on biodistribution within the range tested here. Pegylated QD have slightly slower uptake into liver and spleen (6 vs. 2 min) and show additional low-level bone uptake (6.5-6.9 %ID/g). No evidence of clearance from these organs was observed.
Conclusion:
Rapid reticuloendothelial system clearance of QD will require modification of QD for optimal utility in imaging living subjects. Formal quantitative biodistribution/imaging studies will be helpful in studying many types of nanoparticles, including quantum dots.
