Abstract
Aim: Gold nanoparticles are employed for imaging and treatment of surgically inaccessible tumors owing to their inherent optical absorption and ability to extravasate through intravenous distribution. These nanoparticles are cleared from the blood by the reticuloendothelial system (RES) as expected given their size. Materials & methods: This study demonstrates the effects of RES blockade through the intravenous administration of λ-carrageenan, resulting in a decrease in the median clearance rate from 18.9 (95% CrI: 15.9–22.6) to 11.2 (95% CrI: 8.8–13.9) μl/min and an increase in nanoparticle circulation half-life (t1/2 = 264 ± 73 vs 160 ± 22 min; p < 0.01). Results: This 59.3% decrease in clearance is greater than the 15% previously reported for liposomes [Citation1]. Conclusion: The primary benefit of nontoxic RES blockade is to increase the circulation time, where traditional particle modification is ineffective or impractical.
Financial & competing interests disclosure
This work was completed with support from the National Science Foundation (grant no. 1032176) and the Louisiana Board of Regents (LEQSF (2013–15)-RD-B-03). The authors have no other relevant affiliations or financial involvement with any organization or entity with a financial interest in or financial conflict with the subject matter or materials discussed in the manuscript apart from those disclosed.
No writing assistance was utilized in the production of this manuscript.
Ethical conduct of research
The authors state that they have obtained appropriate institutional review board approval or have followed the principles outlined in the Declaration of Helsinki for all human or animal experimental investigations. In addition, for investigations involving human subjects, informed consent has been obtained from the participants involved.