Tuning and Targeting Semiconducting Polymer Nanoparticles to Enhance In Vivo Photoacoustic Imaging

光声成像是一种结合超声成像的高空间分辨率和光学成像技术的特异性的新型成像技术。为了在体内获得良好的对比度，PA成像依赖于内源性分子的光学特性。然而，许多临床相关的生物物种是光学沉默的，需要显像剂以良好的特异性靶向它们，同时保持光稳定性和良好的生物利用度。最近，Tabor小组通过在纳米颗粒支架中引入垂坠靶向肽，成功地将pDNA递送纳米颗粒靶向癌细胞表面过度表达的EGFR受体。这些包覆的纳米颗粒与脂质和两亲性基团（如PEG和DPPC）共配制，具有良好的保留时间，其功能化核心仍然不被降解。基于Bronstein小组最近合成的具有优异PA潜力的靛蓝衍生半导体聚合物（INDT- x），该项目的目的是在半导体聚合物纳米颗粒（SPN）支架内形成egfr靶向INDT物种，以生产一种安全高效的PA造影剂，用于各种癌症的临床和临床前成像。

Photoacoustic (PA) imaging is a novel imaging technique that combines the high spatial resolution of ultrasound imaging and the specificity of optical imaging techniques. To achieve good contrast in vivo, PA imaging relies on the optical properties of endogenous molecules. However, many clinically relevant biological species are optically silent, and would require an imaging agent to target them with good specificity while remaining photostable and retaining good bioavailability. Recently, the Tabor group has succeeded in specifically targeting a pDNA delivery nanoparticle to EGFR receptors, overexpressed on the surface of cancer cells, by introducing pendant targeting peptides into the nanoparticle scaffold. Coformulated with lipids and amphiphilic moieties such as PEG and DPPC, these coated nanoparticles have good retention times and their functionalised core remains protected from degradation. Based on the recent synthesis by the Bronstein group of indigo-derived semiconducting polymers (INDT-X) with excellent PA potential, the aim of this project is to formulate EGFR-targeting INDT species within a semiconducting polymer nanoparticle (SPN) scaffold, to produce a safe and performant PA contrast agent for the clinical and pre-clinical imaging of a variety of cancers.