Theranostic Nanoemulsions: Codelivery of Hydrophobic Drug and Hydrophilic Imaging Probe for Cancer Therapy and Imaging

Abstract

Aim: To develop a theranostic nanoemulsion (TNE) that can codeliver the conjugates of a hydrophobic drug paclitaxel (PTX) and a hydrophilic imaging probe sulforhodamine B (SRB). Materials & methods: The TNE was established using core-matched technology, and can achieve high encapsulation efficiency and synchronized release of the loaded cargo. It has been examined for a correlation between the dynamic uptake of PTX and the intensity of SRB imaging signal in different organs. Results & discussion: Our data demonstrate that the TNE, with improved circulation time, increases therapeutic efficacy and imaging efficiency in both drug-sensitive and drug-resistant cancer. The TNE could not satisfy the demand of visual diagnosis in the living animal because of interference. We therefore formulated a long-circulating theranostic nanoemulsion (LCTNE). Results showed that the LCTNE can meet imaging requirements in vivo. Conclusion: The LCTNE plays a good therapeutic and diagnostic role for subcutaneous tumors in the living animal.

Keywords::

• core-matched technology
• live animal imaging
• long-circulating theranostic nanoemulsion
• paclitaxel
• sulforhodamine B
• synchronous release
• theranostic nanoemulsions

Financial & competing interests disclosure

This study was supported by the National Cancer Institute–National Institutes of Health (5R01CA149387). 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.

Additional information

Funding

This study was supported by the National Cancer Institute–National Institutes of Health (5R01CA149387). 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.