Multimodal imaging probe for targeting cancer cells using uMUC-1 aptamer

Area of Science:

• Biomedical Engineering
• Nanotechnology
• Oncology

Background:

• Advanced cancer imaging requires specific molecular targets and multimodal approaches.
• Underglycosylated mucin-1 (uMUC-1) is an early tumor marker overexpressed on many cancers.
• Nanotechnology offers potential for integrating multiple imaging modalities.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a single multimodal nanoparticle imaging probe for simultaneous optical, MR, and PET imaging.
• To target the uMUC-1 antigen for specific cancer cell detection.
• To evaluate the probe's efficacy in vitro and in vivo.

Main Methods:

• Synthesized cobalt ferrite magnetic nanoparticles coated with silica, rhodamine, and a uMUC-1 targeting aptamer.
• Conjugated the nanoparticles with (68)Ga for PET imaging using a NOTA chelator.
• Characterized nanoparticle morphology and evaluated targeting specificity in vitro (BT-20 cells) and in vivo (tumor-bearing mice).

Main Results:

• Developed spherical, monodispersed multimodal nanoparticles (MFR-uMUC-1).
• Demonstrated specific, dose-dependent fluorescent, radioisotope, and MR signals targeting uMUC-1-expressing cells.
• Confirmed in vivo tumor targeting and multimodal imaging specificity in mice.

Conclusions:

• The MFR-uMUC-1 nanoparticle serves as a single probe for multimodal cancer imaging.
• This approach enhances cancer cell visualization via optical, radionuclide, and MR imaging.
• The developed probe shows significant potential for improved cancer diagnosis and therapy.