(400) Theranostics nanoemulsions as new tools for studying inflammation in chronic pain preclinical models

Abstract

Inflammatory cells (e.g. macrophages) infiltrate the affected tissue in response to neuronal injury at varied levels. As the neuronal healing process progresses, inflammatory cells undergo profound activity and phenotypic changes. New methods to assess inflammatory cell phenotype and quantify in vivo aspects of the neuroinflammatory processes in neuronal injury are needed. Theranostic nanomedicine represents a new nanotechnology strategy where therapeutic and imaging agents are combined into a single nanosystem. Our group recently designed and developed novel perfluorocarbon nanoemulsions for treatment and imaging of inflammation (Patel et al, PLOS One 2013; Janjic et al, SPIE 2013, Patel et al, JBO 2013). These nanodroplets are designed to specifically accumulate in inflammatory cells (e.g. macrophages) and deliver anti-inflammatory drugs. Therefore, these novel nanoemulsions allow formonitoring of inflammation response to the drug using combination of F magnetic resonance and near-infrared imaging. In this report, we present in detail theranostic nanoemulsions development adapted for neuropathic chronic pain preclinical studies. Design, development and formulation strategies are presented. Nanoemulsions presented are in size range of 85-150 nm. They are highly stable under biologically relevant conditions, safe and biocompatible. They can deliver varied anti-inflammatory agents (e.g. celecoxib, curcumin, resveratrol, and others). In short term, the presented work will lead to unique biological nanoprobes for studying the effects of inflammation in neuronal injury and the role of inflammatory cells in prolonged and intractable neuropathic pain development. In long term, the proposed nanomedicine can serve as the basis for a novel approaches to both prevent and treat chronic neuropathic pain, where molecular imaging can help to individualize therapeutic treatment. We present design of novel theranostic nanoemulsions and offer a starting point for not fully unexplored area of research and we hope this example prompts others to utilize theranostic nanosystems in chronic pain research.