Folic acid-conjugated BSA nanocapsule (n-BSA–FA) for cancer targeted radiotherapy and imaging
Abstract
New carrier systems have generated new opportunities to deliver drugs to specific targets. Capitalizing on recent achievements in the area of nanotechnology and nuclear medicine, we sought to develop a radiolabeled nano-drug that could accumulate in tumors via tumor-selective targeted delivery system and could treat the tumors with radionuclide. 125/131I-labeled nano-drug, [125/131I]I–n-BSA–FA, was prepared in this paper, with high radiochemical yield and long stability in vitro. Pharmacokinetics and biodistribution studies, as well as SPECT/CT imaging of the radiolabeled nanoparticles, [125I]I–n-BSA–FA, were performed on a mouse model of breast cancer. Accumulation of this drug in tumor peaked at 24 h after injection and was measured to be 11.3 percentage injected dose per gram (ID% per g). In addition, a therapeutic study was performed to evaluate the therapeutic effect of [131I]I–n-BSA–FA. It completely retarded the tumor growth with only one injection. The nano-carrier drugs described here targeted malignant tumors and may be useful for both tumor imaging and tumor treatment combined in clinic.