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Updated: Apr 6, 2026
Fluorescence Molecular Tomography for In Vivo Imaging of Glioblastoma Xenografts
Published on: April 26, 2018
In vivo mouse fluorescence imaging for folate-targeted delivery and release kinetics
Esther H R Tsai1, Brian Z Bentz1, Venkatesh Chelvam2
1School of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN 47907, USA.
Abstract:
Many cancer cells over-express folate receptors, and this provides an opportunity for both folate-targeted fluorescence imaging and the development of targeted anti-cancer drugs. We present an optical imaging modality that allows for the monitoring and evaluation of drug delivery and release through disulfide bond reduction inside a tumor in vivo for the first time. A near-infrared folate-targeting fluorophore pair was synthesized and used to image a xenograft tumor grown from KB cells in a live mouse. The in vivo results are shown to be in agreement with previous in vitro studies, confirming the validity and feasibility of our method as an effective tool for preclinical studies in drug development.
Insights
This study introduces a novel optical imaging method for tracking drug delivery and release in tumors using folate-targeting near-infrared fluorophores. The technique successfully monitored drug behavior in vivo, validating its potential for preclinical cancer drug development.
Area of Science:
- Biomedical Optics
- Cancer Therapeutics
- Molecular Imaging
Background:
- Cancer cells often overexpress folate receptors, presenting a target for imaging and drug delivery.
- Targeted therapies require methods to monitor drug action within the tumor microenvironment.
- Current methods for evaluating drug release in vivo are limited.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop and validate a novel optical imaging modality for monitoring drug delivery and release in vivo.
- To utilize a folate-targeting near-infrared fluorophore pair for tracking therapeutic agents.
- To assess the feasibility of this method in preclinical cancer models.
Main Methods:
- Synthesis of a near-infrared folate-targeting fluorophore pair.
- In vivo optical imaging of a xenograft tumor model (KB cells) in a live mouse.
- Monitoring drug delivery and release dynamics via disulfide bond reduction within the tumor.
Main Results:
- The developed optical imaging modality successfully visualized and monitored drug behavior within the tumor.
- In vivo imaging results correlated with established in vitro findings.
- Demonstrated the ability to track drug release triggered by disulfide bond reduction.
Conclusions:
- The presented optical imaging method is a valid and feasible tool for evaluating targeted drug delivery and release in vivo.
- This technique shows significant promise for preclinical studies in cancer drug development.
- Folate receptor-targeted imaging offers a viable strategy for monitoring therapeutic efficacy.
