Conclusion
Our work highlights the potential of star polymers as probes for the molecular imaging of cancer tissue or for the passive delivery of radionuclides for endoradiotherapy. Their high functionalisability and high tumour accumulation emphasises their versatility as powerful tools for nanomedicine.
Methods
We synthesised a star copolymer, consisting of 7-8 centre-cross-linked arms that were modified with Gd3+ for magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and functionalised either with 89Zr for in vivo quantification and positron emission tomography (PET) imaging, or with 177Lu for endoradiotherapy. 1H longitudinal relaxivities were determined over a continuum of magnetic field strengths ranging from 0.24 mT - 0.94 T at 37 °C (nuclear magnetic relaxation dispersion (NMRD) profile) and T1-weighted MRI contrast enhancement was visualized at 3 T and 7 T. PET imaging and ex vivo biodistribution studies were performed in mice bearing tumours with high EPR (CT26) or low EPR (BxPC3) characteristics. Therapy studies were performed in mice with high EPR tumours and mean absorbed organ doses were estimated for a standard human model.
Results
The star copolymer with Gd3+ displayed a significantly superior contrast enhancement ability (T1 = 0.60 s) compared to the standard clinical contrast agent Gadovist (T1 = 1.0 s). Quantification of tumour accumulation using the radiolabelled nanostars in tumour-bearing mice demonstrated an exceptionally high uptake in tumours with high EPR characteristics (14.8 - 21.7 %ID/g). Uptake of the star polymers in tumours with low EPR characteristics was significantly lower (P<0.001), suggesting passive tumour accumulation of the nanostars via the EPR effect. Survival of mice treated with high dose 177Lu-labelled star polymers was significantly higher than survival of mice treated with lower therapy doses or control mice (P=0.001), demonstrating the utility of the 177Lu-labelled star polymers as platforms for endoradiotherapy.