Figures & data
Figure 1 Schematic representation of EGF1-EGFP-IONPs for glioma targeting. After being intravenously injected, the disrupted BBB and receptor-mediated endocytosis by TF-positive glioma cells and endothelial cells can provide specific retention of NPs in the tumor, resulting in MR contrast enhancement.
Abbreviations: EGF1, epidermal growth factor-like domain-1; EGFP, enhanced green fluorescent protein; IONPs, iron oxide nanoparticles; NPs, nanoparticles; TF, tissue factor; MR, magnetic resonance; BBB, blood-brain-barrier.
Figure 2 Characterization of NPs. TEM images of plain IONPs (A). Hydrodynamic sizes (B) and FTIR spectra (C) of NPs. T2 relaxation rate (1/T2, S−1) of plain IONPs (D), EGFP-IONPs (E) and EGF1-EGFP-IONPs (F) in aqueous dispersion. Insets show corresponding T2-weighted phantom images with different concentrations of iron.
Abbreviations: EGF1, epidermal growth factor-like domain-1; EGFP, enhanced green fluorescent protein; IONPs, iron oxide nanoparticles; NPs, nanoparticles; TEM, transmission electron microscopy; FTIR, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy.
Figure 3 In vitro cell viability of U87MG cells (A) and HUVECs (B) after different treatments for 24 h.
Abbreviations: HUVECs, human umbilical vein endothelial cells; EGF1, epidermal growth factor-like domain-1; EGFP, enhanced green fluorescent protein; IONPs, iron oxide nanoparticles.
Figure 4 Targeting ability of EGF1-EGFP and EGF1-EGFP-IONPs in vitro. (A) Fluorescent images of U87MG cells and HUVECs incubated with EGF1-EGFP and EGFP. (B) Prussian blue staining of U87MG cells and HUVECs incubated with plain IONPs, EGFP-IONPs and EGF1-EGFP-IONPs. Magnification, ×400.
Abbreviations: EGF1, epidermal growth factor-like domain-1; EGFP, enhanced green fluorescent protein; HUVECs, human umbilical vein endothelial cells; IONPs, iron oxide nanoparticles.
Figure 5 Cell MRI in vitro. T2-weighted images (A) and T2 relaxation time (B) of U87MG cells and HUVECs with control, plain IONPs, EGFP-IONPs and EGF1-EGFP-IONPs treatment (from left to right).
Abbreviations: EGF1, epidermal growth factor-like domain-1; EGFP, enhanced green fluorescent protein; HUVECs, human umbilical vein endothelial cells; IONPs, iron oxide nanoparticles; MRI, magnetic resonance imaging; ms, milliseconds.
Figure 6 Representative in vivo T2-weighted images (A) and normalized T2 relaxation time (B, C) of mouse brain-bearing U87MG glioma before and at different time points post-injection of EGFP-IONPs (upper row, C) and EGF1-EGFP-IONPs (lower row, B).
Abbreviations: EGF1, epidermal growth factor-like domain-1; EGFP, enhanced green fluorescent protein; IONPs, iron oxide nanoparticles.
Figure 7 Prussian blue staining of tumor and healthy brain tissues at 24 h post-injection of EGF1-EGFP-IONPs (upper row) and EGFP-IONPs (lower row). Magnification, ×200.
Abbreviations: EGF1, epidermal growth factor-like domain-1; EGFP, enhanced green fluorescent protein; IONPs, iron oxide nanoparticles.
