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Published on: February 9, 2019
Liraglutide-Conjugated Poly(methyl vinyl ether-alt-maleic acid)-Coated Core-Shell Upconversion Nanoparticles for
Oleksandr Shapoval1, Hana Engstová2, Miroslav Šlouf1
1Institute of Macromolecular Chemistry of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Heyrovského nám. 2, 162 00 Prague 6, Czech Republic.
Researchers developed novel nanoparticles that target insulin-deficient cells for diabetes diagnostics. These biocompatible nanoparticles enable simultaneous drug delivery and imaging of pancreatic beta-cells, improving diagnostic accuracy.
Area of Science:
- Biomedical Engineering
- Nanotechnology
- Medical Diagnostics
Background:
- Current diabetes diagnostics require targeted drug delivery and noninvasive imaging of insulin-deficient pancreatic beta-cells.
- Liraglutide (LGL) targets GLP-1 receptors on beta-cells, but simultaneous imaging is needed.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop novel core-shell upconversion nanoparticles (CS-UCNPs) conjugated with liraglutide (LGL) for targeted pancreatic beta-cell imaging and diagnostics.
- To evaluate the physicochemical properties, biocompatibility, and in vivo targeting efficiency of these LGL-conjugated CS-UCNPs.
Main Methods:
- Synthesis and characterization of Fe, Yb, Er, Nd-codoped NaYF4 core-shell upconversion nanoparticles (CS-UCNPs).
- Surface functionalization with poly(methyl vinyl ether-alt-maleic acid) (PMVEMA) for stability and LGL conjugation.
- In vivo fluorescence imaging and confocal microscopy to assess pancreatic accumulation and cellular uptake.
Main Results:
- Developed CS-UCNPs with red-region upconversion emission suitable for deep-tissue imaging.
- LGL conjugation enabled targeted binding to GLP-1 receptors, enhancing glucose-stimulated insulin secretion.
- In vivo imaging showed significantly higher pancreatic accumulation of LGL-conjugated nanoparticles after intramuscular injection compared to intravenous.
- Confirmed receptor-mediated uptake and localization within pancreatic beta-cells.
Conclusions:
- CS-UCNP@PMVEMA-LGL nanoparticles are biocompatible and effectively target pancreatic beta-cells via GLP-1 receptors.
- These nanoparticles show potential as theranostic agents for noninvasive pancreatic diagnostics in diabetes.
- Further applications in pancreatic diagnostics are highlighted by these findings.
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