Ultra-high-frequency radio-frequency acoustic molecular imaging with saline nanodroplets in living subjects

Nat Nanotechnol. 2021 Jun;16(6):717-724. doi: 10.1038/s41565-021-00869-5. Epub 2021 Mar 29.

Abstract

Molecular imaging is a crucial technique in clinical diagnostics but it relies on radioactive tracers or strong magnetic fields that are unsuitable for many patients, particularly infants and pregnant women. Ultra-high-frequency radio-frequency acoustic (UHF-RF-acoustic) imaging using non-ionizing RF pulses allows deep-tissue imaging with sub-millimetre spatial resolution. However, lack of biocompatible and targetable contrast agents has prevented the successful in vivo application of UHF-RF-acoustic imaging. Here we report our development of targetable nanodroplets for UHF-RF-acoustic molecular imaging of cancers. We synthesize all-liquid nanodroplets containing hypertonic saline that are stable for at least 2 weeks and can produce high-intensity UHF-RF-acoustic signals. Compared with concentration-matched iron oxide nanoparticles, our nanodroplets produce at least 1,600 times higher UHF-RF-acoustic signals at the same imaging depth. We demonstrate in vivo imaging using the targeted nanodroplets in a prostate cancer xenograft mouse model expressing gastrin release protein receptor (GRPR), and show that targeting specificity is increased by more than 2-fold compared with untargeted nanodroplets or prostate cancer cells not expressing this receptor.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Acoustics
  • Animals
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Contrast Media / chemistry
  • Drug Stability
  • Humans
  • Hydrocarbons, Fluorinated / chemistry
  • Male
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred NOD
  • Molecular Imaging / instrumentation
  • Molecular Imaging / methods*
  • Nanostructures / chemistry*
  • Phantoms, Imaging
  • Prostatic Neoplasms / diagnostic imaging*
  • Prostatic Neoplasms / metabolism
  • Radio Waves
  • Receptors, Bombesin / genetics
  • Receptors, Bombesin / immunology
  • Receptors, Bombesin / metabolism
  • Saline Solution, Hypertonic / chemistry*
  • Xenograft Model Antitumor Assays

Substances

  • Contrast Media
  • Hydrocarbons, Fluorinated
  • Receptors, Bombesin
  • Saline Solution, Hypertonic