β3-specific Dual-modality Micellar Nanoprobes

Multimodality tumor-specific nanoprobes that incorporate two or more imaging functionalities are becoming an integral part of early detection, molecular diagnosis and post-therapy assessment of cancer (1,2). Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and optical imaging are two complementary imaging modalities that provide superb anatomical and functional imaging information, respectively. Here we report the development of a dual-modality fluorescent superparamagnetic polymeric micelles (FSPPM, Fig. 1A) and demonstrate specific tumor targeting in vivo. During tumor growth, one essential requirement is its ability to acquire an adequate blood supply; therefore, tumor vasculature is in a perpetual state of angiogenesis. Integrin αvβ3 is a well-established biomarker for angiogenesis with overexpression in tumor vasculatures and low to no expressions in resting endothelial cells. Here we demonstrate the use of dynamic contrast enhancement (DCE) MRI and fluorescent imaging to image αvβ3 biomarkers in a human lung A549 tumor xenograft in mice. Experimental Methods