Targeted magnetic nanoparticles have found plethora of applications in various biomedical fields. We exploited the selective interaction between the CD44 receptor and hyaluronan to design advanced functional and targeted magnetic nanoparticles for the in vivo treatment and/or detection of diseases characterized by the overexpression of CD44 such as ovarian cancer and atherosclerosis. We relied on Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) and histological examination to confirm the effective accumulation of Doxorubicin-loaded nanoparticles in subcutaneous ovarian tumors. In addition, in vivo bioluminescence imaging was used to aid in therapy assessment of the drug-loaded nanoparticles on intraperitoneal ovarian tumors. Appreciating that CD44 plays important roles in the initiation and development of atherosclerotic plaques, hyaluronan coated magnetic nanoparticles were evaluated for its ability to selectively detect and image plaques by MRI in an atherosclerotic rabbit model.  The low dose of nanoparticles required to achieve selective and sensitive detection rendered the developed glyconanoparticles advantageous as efficient contrast agents for plaque imaging.

Advanced functional magnetic glyconanoparticles for the in vivo treatment and detection of diseases

248th National Meeting (2014)

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