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Structural insights on nanoparticles containing gadolinium complexes as potential theranostic

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Abstract

Nanostructures are gaining interest in drug release applications. Amphiphilic molecules can give, in water solution, a variety of nanostructures as well as thermodynamically stable mesophases three-dimensional inverse cubic structures. These mesophases are attractive candidates for biomedical applications containing extensive water channel networks and could act as very efficient delivery systems of drugs or contrast agents. In order to discover, optimize, and develop these systems, we have performed a deep physicochemical characterization by dynamic light scattering and small-angle neutron scattering of nanoparticles of monoolein (MO) and Pluronic PF127, containing different amounts (1, 5, 10, and 20 %) of the synthetic amphiphilic gadolinium complex (C18)2DTPA(Gd). Nanoparticle size is found in the 70–400 nm range for all investigated systems; the morphology of the aggregates is driven by the main constituents MO/PF127 and is a mixture of multilayer vesicles and bicontinuous aggregates. Nanostructures are also able to encapsulate doxorubicin (drug-loading content between 70 and 90 % for the different systems) acting as a potential theranostic for simultaneous cancer therapy and MRI visualization.

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Acknowledgments

This work was supported by grants from the Italian Minister of Research (MIUR): grant FIRB RBRN07BMCT, grant PRIN E61J11000300001, and grant PRIN 2009235JB7. The Italian Consortium CIRCMSB is also gratefully acknowledged. Some of the authors (N.S.,V.P., A.L., and L.P.) thank the Julich Centre for Neutron Science for provision of beam time. SANS experiments were supported by the European Commission, NMI3.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. CIRPeB, Department of Pharmacy & IBB CNR, University of Naples “Federico II”, Via Mezzocannone, 16 80134, Naples, Italy

    Antonella Accardo, Paola Ringhieri & Diego Tesauro

  2. Department of Chemical Sciences, University of Naples “Federico II”, Complesso Universitario di M.S. Angelo, Via Cinthia, 80126, Naples, Italy

    Alessandra Luchini & Luigi Paduano

  3. Jülich Centre for Neutron Science, Garching Forschungszentrum, Lichtenbergstrasse 1, 85747, Garching bei München, Germany

    Noemi Szekely & Vitaly Pipich

Authors
  1. Antonella Accardo
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  2. Paola Ringhieri
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  3. Noemi Szekely
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  4. Vitaly Pipich
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  5. Alessandra Luchini
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  6. Luigi Paduano
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  7. Diego Tesauro
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Correspondence to Luigi Paduano or Diego Tesauro.

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Accardo, A., Ringhieri, P., Szekely, N. et al. Structural insights on nanoparticles containing gadolinium complexes as potential theranostic. Colloid Polym Sci 292, 1121–1127 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00396-013-3159-7

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00396-013-3159-7

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