Ultrasound molecular imaging with cRGD-PLGA-PFOB nanoparticles for liver fibrosis staging in a rat model.

Abstract

Hepatic fibrosis is the only chronic liver disease process that can be reversed. Developing non-invasive and effective methods to quantitatively assess the degree of liver fibrosis is of great clinical significance and remains a major challenge. The key factors in hepatic fibrosis pathogenesis are the activation and proliferation of hepatic stellate cells that subsequently express integrin αvβ3. An ultrasound (US) agent combined with a targeting peptide may be used for the early and non-invasive diagnosis of hepatic fibrosis. Herein, we report the synthesis of core-shell nanoparticles (NPs) successfully engineered by conjugation with cyclic arginine-glycine-aspartic acid (cRGD) octapeptide, allowing hepatic integrin αvβ3 targeting for liver fibrosis staging. This system consists of a perfluorooctyl bromide (PFOB) liquid in the core that is stabilized with a Poly (lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA) polymer shell and modified with a cRGD. These core-shell NPs (cRGD-PLGA-PFOB NPs) exhibited useful US molecular imaging features including high imaging contrast among liver fibrotic stages and the adjacent tissues. Our results indicate that the cRGD-PLGA-PFOB NPs have significant potential to distinguish different liver fibrotic stages and could be used in clinical applications.

• Authors: Jiqing Xuan, Yuli Chen, Leilei Zhu, Yuan Guo, Liming Deng, Yuanyi Zheng, Zhaoxia Wang, Zhigang Wang, Meng Ao
• Journal: Oncotarget (Oncotarget) Vol. 8 Issue 65 Pg. 108676-108691 (Dec 12 2017) ISSN: 1949-2553 [Electronic] United States
• PMID: 29312560 (Publication Type: Journal Article)