Physalis Mottle Virus-like Nanoparticles for Targeted Cancer Imaging

Area of Science:

• Nanomedicine
• Biotechnology
• Molecular Imaging

Background:

• Effective in vivo delivery of nanoparticles to target lesions, such as tumors, remains a significant challenge in nanomedicine.
• Developing nanoparticles with enhanced circulation, targeting, and imaging capabilities is crucial for advancing diagnostic and therapeutic applications.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop Physalis mottle virus (PhMV)-like nanoparticles as bimodal contrast agents for improved in vivo tumor targeting and imaging.
• To investigate the potential of these nanoparticles for long circulation, specific tumor delivery, and prolonged monitoring.

Main Methods:

• Physalis mottle virus (PhMV)-like nanoparticles were engineered with a self-assembling coat protein nanostructure.
• The internal cavity was loaded with Cy5.5 (fluorescent dye) and Gd(III) complexes (paramagnetic).
• The external surface was modified via PEGylation and conjugation with targeting peptides.

Main Results:

• The developed nanoparticles demonstrated long circulation times and efficient delivery to a human prostate tumor model in vivo.
• Bimodal imaging using near-infrared fluorescence and magnetic resonance imaging allowed monitoring for up to 10 days.
• Up to 6% of the injected dose remained in the tumor model, indicating significant accumulation.

Conclusions:

• PhMV-like nanoparticles represent a versatile and innovative platform for developing advanced diagnostic and therapeutic agents.
• The ability to independently modify internal and external surfaces facilitates tailored nanoparticle design.
• This approach holds significant potential for next-generation nanomedicine applications in oncology.