The complexity of the macrophage response to diseases and crucial metabolic events has only recently been appreciated, and it is now understood that macrophages polarize between functions that inhibit or promote disease. Increasingly, distinct macrophage subtypes have been associated with disease progression or resolution. Here, we describe an in vivo imaging probe platform that is readily modifiable to accommodate binding of different molecular targeting moieties. In this work, we describe an in vivo imaging probe platform that is readily modifiable to accommodate binding of different molecular targeting moieties and payloads for multi-modal image generation. We demonstrate the utility of perfluorocarbon (PFC) nanoemulsions incorporating dibenzocyclooctyne (DBCO) enabling functionalization, post-emulsification, via click-reaction with azide-containing ligands. Addition of DBCO-lipid to the surfactant in PFC nanoemulsions did not affect nanoemulsion size or nanoemulsion stability. As proof-of-concept, fluorescent dye-azides were conjugated to PFC nanoemulsions, demonstrating the feasibility of functionalization by click reaction. Uptake of the fluorescent PFC by macrophages was demonstrated in situ in an acute inflammation mouse model, where fluorescence imaging and 1H/19F MRI was used for in vivo detection (Figure 1). Overall, these data demonstrate the potential of PFC nanoemulsions incorporating DBCO as a versatile platform for generating functionalized probes. Future macrophage subtype detection research is still undergoing.

Clickable perfluorocarbon nanoemulsion for 19F MRI and multi-model cellular detection

ACS Spring 2022

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