Abstract
Purpose:Melanoma is a lethal skin cancer with unmet clinical needs for targeted imaging and therapy. Nanoscale materials conjugated with targeting components have shown great potential to improve tumor delivery efficiency while minimizing undesirable side effects in vivo. Herein, we proposed to develop targeted nanoparticles for melanoma theranostics.Method:In this work, gold nanocages (AuNCs) were conjugated with α-melanocyte-stimulating hormone (α-MSH) peptide and radiolabeled with 64Cu for melanocortin 1 receptor-(MC1R) targeted positron emission tomography (PET) in a mouse B16/F10 melanoma model.Results:Their controlled synthesis and surface chemistry enabled well-defined structure and radiolabeling efficiency. In vivo pharmacokinetic evaluation demonstrated comparable organ distribution between the targeted and nontargeted AuNCs. However, micro-PET/computed tomography (CT) imaging demonstrated specific and improved tumor accumulation via MC1R-mediated delivery. By increasing the coverage density of α-MSH peptide on AuNCs, the tumor delivery efficiency was improved.Conclusion:The controlled synthesis, sensitive PET imaging, and optimal tumor targeting suggested the potential of targeted AuNCs for melanoma theranostics.
Highlights
Skin cancer is the fifth most common cancer in the United States.[1]
With the improvement in treatment strategies, malignant melanoma can be effectively treated upon early detection
Early and sensitive detection of melanoma is of paramount importance in improving prognosis and patient survival
Summary
Skin cancer is the fifth most common cancer in the United States.[1]. Of various dermatologic malignancies, melanoma accounts for only 1% of all the incidence but approximately 75% of the death in the case of skin cancer.[2]. We studied the photoacoustic imaging of melanoma using NDP-a-MSHconjugated AuNCs (ca 60 nm in size) in a mouse B16 model showing sensitive and specific detection of tumors.[20] the pharmacokinetics and tumor targeting efficiency of AuNCs need further optimization to enhance its theranostic potential.
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