1. Mesoporous silica nanoparticles as a breast-cancer targeting ultrasound contrast agent.
- Author
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Milgroom, Andrew, Intrator, Miranda, Madhavan, Krishna, Mazzaro, Luciano, Shandas, Robin, Liu, Bolin, and Park, Daewon
- Subjects
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MESOPOROUS materials , *SILICA nanoparticles , *BREAST cancer diagnosis , *CONTRAST media , *ANTINEOPLASTIC agents , *ULTRASONICS - Abstract
Abstract: Ultrasound (US) is used widely in the context of breast cancer. While it is advantageous for a number of reasons, it has low specificity and requires the use of a contrast agent. Its use as a standalone diagnostic and real-time imaging modality could be achieved by development of a tumor-targeted ultrasound contrast agent (UCA); functionalizing the UCA with a tumor-targeting agent would also allow the targeted administration of anti-cancer drugs at the tumor site. In this article, clinical US techniques are used to show that mesoporous silica nanoparticles (MSNs), functionalized with the monoclonal antibody Herceptin®, can be used as an effective UCA by increasing US image contrast. Furthermore, in vitro assays show the successful localization and binding of the MSN-Herceptin conjugate to HER2+ cancer cells, resulting in tumor-specific cytotoxicity. These results demonstrate the potential of MSNs as a stable, biocompatible, and effective therapeutic and diagnostic (“theranostic”) agent for US-based breast cancer imaging, diagnosis, and treatment. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]
- Published
- 2014
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