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Image courtesy of PNAS
Researchers say they have devised a system that allows for real-time monitoring of drug release.
The team created a luminescent nanoparticle and attached it to the anticancer drug doxorubicin, which allowed them to visualize the drug’s arrival in cancer cells.
Thus far, the team has only tested this system in vitro, but animal studies are currently underway.
“We really want to see what’s going on when we give chemo drugs, and this work paves the way for the exciting endeavor,” said Mingjun Zhang, PhD, of The Ohio State University in Columbus.
He and his colleagues described their work in Nature Nanotechnology.
The researchers noted that peptide nanoparticles with fluorescence properties are highly sought after because they are biodegradable and considered safe. However, peptides have limited intrinsic optical properties and therefore don’t make effective imaging probes.
In an attempt to overcome the imaging problem without compromising safety, the researchers created tryptophan–phenylalanine dipeptide nanoparticles (DNPs).
“Composed of natural amino acids, the nanoparticle is inherently biocompatible,” Dr Zhang said. “Our biological machines can easily take care of it.”
In addition, the DNPs proved photostable and could maintain their luminescence for extended periods of time.
To test the imaging capabilities of the DNPs, the researchers modified the nanoparticles with MUC1 aptamers so they would recognize the overexpressed MUC1 proteins on A549 human carcinoma epithelial cells.
Experiments showed these DNP/aptamer conjugates could effectively target and light up the cancer cells.
The researchers then tested the DNPs’ ability to monitor drug release by hitching the nanoparticles to doxorubicin. In experiments with A549 cells, the team was able to visualize the doxorubicin inside the cells.
Dr Zhang and his colleagues said the DNPs could be effective with other drugs as well. In fact, the team hopes this method might one day provide patients and their doctors with information on how well and how quickly a medication is working. 
Image courtesy of PNAS
Researchers say they have devised a system that allows for real-time monitoring of drug release.
The team created a luminescent nanoparticle and attached it to the anticancer drug doxorubicin, which allowed them to visualize the drug’s arrival in cancer cells.
Thus far, the team has only tested this system in vitro, but animal studies are currently underway.
“We really want to see what’s going on when we give chemo drugs, and this work paves the way for the exciting endeavor,” said Mingjun Zhang, PhD, of The Ohio State University in Columbus.
He and his colleagues described their work in Nature Nanotechnology.
The researchers noted that peptide nanoparticles with fluorescence properties are highly sought after because they are biodegradable and considered safe. However, peptides have limited intrinsic optical properties and therefore don’t make effective imaging probes.
In an attempt to overcome the imaging problem without compromising safety, the researchers created tryptophan–phenylalanine dipeptide nanoparticles (DNPs).
“Composed of natural amino acids, the nanoparticle is inherently biocompatible,” Dr Zhang said. “Our biological machines can easily take care of it.”
In addition, the DNPs proved photostable and could maintain their luminescence for extended periods of time.
To test the imaging capabilities of the DNPs, the researchers modified the nanoparticles with MUC1 aptamers so they would recognize the overexpressed MUC1 proteins on A549 human carcinoma epithelial cells.
Experiments showed these DNP/aptamer conjugates could effectively target and light up the cancer cells.
The researchers then tested the DNPs’ ability to monitor drug release by hitching the nanoparticles to doxorubicin. In experiments with A549 cells, the team was able to visualize the doxorubicin inside the cells.
Dr Zhang and his colleagues said the DNPs could be effective with other drugs as well. In fact, the team hopes this method might one day provide patients and their doctors with information on how well and how quickly a medication is working.
Image courtesy of PNAS
Researchers say they have devised a system that allows for real-time monitoring of drug release.
The team created a luminescent nanoparticle and attached it to the anticancer drug doxorubicin, which allowed them to visualize the drug’s arrival in cancer cells.
Thus far, the team has only tested this system in vitro, but animal studies are currently underway.
“We really want to see what’s going on when we give chemo drugs, and this work paves the way for the exciting endeavor,” said Mingjun Zhang, PhD, of The Ohio State University in Columbus.
He and his colleagues described their work in Nature Nanotechnology.
The researchers noted that peptide nanoparticles with fluorescence properties are highly sought after because they are biodegradable and considered safe. However, peptides have limited intrinsic optical properties and therefore don’t make effective imaging probes.
In an attempt to overcome the imaging problem without compromising safety, the researchers created tryptophan–phenylalanine dipeptide nanoparticles (DNPs).
“Composed of natural amino acids, the nanoparticle is inherently biocompatible,” Dr Zhang said. “Our biological machines can easily take care of it.”
In addition, the DNPs proved photostable and could maintain their luminescence for extended periods of time.
To test the imaging capabilities of the DNPs, the researchers modified the nanoparticles with MUC1 aptamers so they would recognize the overexpressed MUC1 proteins on A549 human carcinoma epithelial cells.
Experiments showed these DNP/aptamer conjugates could effectively target and light up the cancer cells.
The researchers then tested the DNPs’ ability to monitor drug release by hitching the nanoparticles to doxorubicin. In experiments with A549 cells, the team was able to visualize the doxorubicin inside the cells.
Dr Zhang and his colleagues said the DNPs could be effective with other drugs as well. In fact, the team hopes this method might one day provide patients and their doctors with information on how well and how quickly a medication is working.