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RESEARCH PRODUCT
Multifunctional nanocarriers for biomedical applications
Raphael ThiermannKatayoun SaatchiMichael MaskosMichael MaskosRegina BleulUrs O. Häfelisubject
ChemistryPolymersomeDrug deliverymedicineGastrin-releasing peptide receptorBiophysicsNanotechnologyNanocarriersPoloxamerPreclinical imagingCamptothecinmedicine.drugAlexa Fluordescription
Polymeric vesicles (Pluronic ® L-121) loaded with magnetic nanoparticles (MNP) and an anti-cancer drug (camptothecin) were prepared continuously in a micro mixing device. Characterization by TEM confirmed the successful incorporation of the MNP and DLS measurements showed a relatively narrow size distribution of the hybrid polymersomes. A very high drug loading of camptothecin (100 μg/ml in the polymersome formulation) was reached and a drug release study of loaded magnetic polymersomes has shown a sustained camptothecin release over several days. Carboxylation of Pluronic ® L-121 was performed and enabled a further surface functionalization with bombesin, a 14 amino acid peptide, which binds specifically to the GRPR (gastrin releasing peptide receptor). This receptor is often overexpressed in tumor cells (e.g., human prostate cancer cells) and therefore a suitable target for cancer treatment. An additional fluorescence label with Alexa Fluor ® 647 allow tracking of the polymersomes e.g., in cell experiments. Relaxivity measurements to evaluate the potential of magnetic polymersomes as MR contrast agent for in vivo imaging are in progress.
| year | journal | country | edition | language |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2013-02-22 | Colloidal Nanocrystals for Biomedical Applications VIII |