Oddo Letizia, Cerroni Barbara, Domenici Fabio, Bedini Angelico, Bordi Federico, Chiessi Ester, Gerbes Stefan, Paradossi Gaio
Dipartimento di Scienze e Tecnologie Chimiche, Università degli Studi di Roma Tor Vergata, Via della Ricerca Scientifica 1, 00133 Roma, Italy.
Dipartimento di Scienze e Tecnologie Chimiche, Università degli Studi di Roma Tor Vergata, Via della Ricerca Scientifica 1, 00133 Roma, Italy; Dipartimento di Fisica, Università degli Studi di Roma Sapienza, P.le A. Moro 5, 00185 Roma, Italy.
J Colloid Interface Sci. 2017 Apr 1;491:151-160. doi: 10.1016/j.jcis.2016.12.030. Epub 2016 Dec 18.
Microbubbles are a well-established contrast agent which improves diagnostic ultrasound imaging. During the last decade research has focused on expanding their use to include molecular imaging, targeted therapy and imaging modalities other than ultrasound. However, bioadhesion of targeted microbubbles under physiological flow conditions is still difficult to achieve, the main challenge being connected to the poor stability of lipid microbubbles in the body's circulation system. In this article, we investigate the use of polymeric microbubbles based on a poly (vinyl alcohol) shell as an alternative to lipid microbubbles. In particular, we report on the development of microbubble shell modification, using mild reaction conditions, with the aim of designing a multifunctional platform to enable diagnosis and therapy. Superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles and a near infrared fluorescent probe, indocyanine green, are coupled to the bubbles surface in order to support magnetic resonance and fluorescence imaging. Furthermore, anchoring cyclic arginyl-glycyl-aspartic acid (RGD) peptide, and cyclodextrin molecules, allows targeting and drug loading, respectively. Last but not least, shell topography is provided by atomic force microscopy. These applications and features, together with the high echogenicity of poly (vinyl alcohol) microbubbles, may offer a more stable alternative to lipid microbubbles for the development of a multimodal theranostic platform.
微泡是一种成熟的造影剂，可改善超声诊断成像。在过去十年中，研究重点一直是扩大其用途，使其包括分子成像、靶向治疗以及超声以外的成像方式。然而，在生理流动条件下，靶向微泡的生物粘附仍然难以实现，主要挑战在于脂质微泡在人体循环系统中的稳定性较差。在本文中，我们研究了基于聚乙烯醇外壳的聚合物微泡作为脂质微泡替代品的用途。特别是，我们报告了在温和反应条件下微泡外壳修饰的进展，目的是设计一个多功能平台以实现诊断和治疗。超顺磁性氧化铁纳米颗粒和近红外荧光探针吲哚菁绿被偶联到气泡表面，以支持磁共振和荧光成像。此外，锚定环精氨酸 - 甘氨酸 - 天冬氨酸（RGD）肽和环糊精分子，分别实现靶向和药物负载。最后但同样重要的是，通过原子力显微镜提供外壳形貌。这些应用和特性，连同聚乙烯醇微泡的高回声性，可能为开发多模态治疗诊断平台提供比脂质微泡更稳定的替代品。
