Novel nanomaterials for applications in cancer imaging

Abstract

Enormous potential of nanoparticles in medicine is a rapidly growing research field. Hereby, we focused on the applications of biocompatible oxide nanoparticles in the field of cancer diagnosis and therapy. This work was focused on the development of fluorescent Tb-doped ZrO2 nanoparticles (NPs) for application in lung cancer diagnostics. Obtained, hydrothermally created NPs were below 100 nm with very low influence of Tb concentration on size. Mice received suspension of nanoparticles (10 mg/ml, 0.3 ml/mouse) via gastric gavage. All protocols were according to the EU guidelines and approved by LEC agreements No 2/2012 and 13/2015. At 3h and 24h mice were sacrificed and all tissues collected for analyses under confocal microscope and scanning cytometry. Following oral administration, ZrO2:Tb nanoparticles were passively targeted to all tumour loci via the enhanced permeation and retention (EPR) effect. Due to the very tight endothelial barrier in the lungs NPs in this organ were targeted specifically to the areas of metastases rendering them a highly specific diagnostic tool for cancer diseases with high potential applications as a carrier of therapeutic factors.