Polymeric micelles: Theranostic co-delivery system for poorly water-soluble drugs and contrast agents

Publication date: July 2018
Source:Biomaterials, Volume 170
Author(s): Jaydev R. Upponi, Kaushal Jerajani, Dattatri K. Nagesha, Praveen Kulkarni, Srinivas Sridhar, Craig Ferris, Vladimir P. Torchilin
Interest in theranostic agents has continued to grow because of their promise for simultaneous cancer detection and therapy. A platform-based nanosized combination agent suitable for the enhanced diagnosis and treatment of cancer was prepared using polymeric polyethylene glycol-phosphatidylethanolamine-based micelles loaded with both, poorly soluble chemotherapeutic agent paclitaxel and hydrophobic superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles (SPION), a Magnetic Resonance Imaging contrast agent. The co-loaded paclitaxel and SPION did not affect each other's functional properties in vitro. In vivo, the resulting paclitaxel-SPION-co-loaded PEG-PE micelles retained their Magnetic Resonance contrast properties and apoptotic activity in breast and melanoma tumor mouse models. Such theranostic systems are likely to play a significant role in the combined diagnosis and therapy that leads to a more personalized and effective form of treatment.



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