Biodistribution of TNF-α-Coated Gold Nanoparticles in An In Vivo Model System

Abstract

Aim: In this study, we describe the biodistribution of CYT-6091, a colloidal gold (Au)-based nanomedicine that targets the delivery of TNF-α to solid tumors. Materials & methods: A single intravenous injection of CYT-6091 coated with 5 µg TNF-α was given to human prostate tumor-bearing or naive (without tumor) nude mice. Tissues were harvested and analyzed at specific time points for Au nanoparticles by atomic emission spectroscopy and TNF-α by ELISA. Results: The two constituents of CYT-6091, TNF-α and Au, exhibited different behavior in blood, with TNF-α showing a faster decay than the Au nanoparticles. Between 0 and 4 h after injection, TNF-α showed a preferential accumulation in the tumor. Au was observed to accumulate preferentially in the liver between 4 and 12 h, and showed some clearance over time (4 months). Conclusion: These data suggest that CYT-6091 delivers TNF-α preferentially to the tumor and that upon TNF-α degradation, the liver takes up Au, which is cleared slowly over time.

Keywords::

• biodistribution
• cryosurgery
• CYT-6091
• gold nanoparticle
• TNF

Financial & competing interests disclosure

This work was supported by the Institute of Engineering and Medicine (University of Minnesota, MN, USA), Center of Nanostructered Applications (University of Minnesota) and NIH grant R01 NCI CA07528. 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.

Acknowledgements

We wish to acknowledge S Clemmings at the University of Minnesota (MN, USA) for her support in the preparation of the manuscript.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by the Institute of Engineering and Medicine (University of Minnesota, MN, USA), Center of Nanostructered Applications (University of Minnesota) and NIH grant R01 NCI CA07528. 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.