Magnetic Nanoparticles As Targeted Delivery Systems in Oncology
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1 review Magnetic nanoparticles as targeted delivery systems in oncology Sara Prijic1 and Gregor Sersa2 1 Nanotesla Institute, Ljubljana, Slovenia 2 Institute of Oncology Ljubljana, Department of Experimental Oncology, Ljubljana, Slovenia Received 10 November 2010 Accepted 5 January 2011 Correspondence to: Prof. Gregor Serša, Institute of Oncology Ljubljana, Zaloška 2, SI-1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia. E-mail: [email protected] Disclosure: No potential conflicts of interest were disclosed. Background. Many different types of nanoparticles, magnetic nanoparticles being just a category among them, of- fer exciting opportunities for technologies at the interfaces between chemistry, physics and biology. Some magnetic nanoparticles have already been utilized in clinical practice as contrast enhancing agents for magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). However, their physicochemical properties are constantly being improved upon also for other biologi- cal applications, such as magnetically-guided delivery systems for different therapeutics. By exposure of magnetic na- noparticles with attached therapeutics to an external magnetic field with appropriate characteristics, they are con- centrated and retained at the preferred site which enables the targeted delivery of therapeutics to the desired spot. Conclusions. The idea of binding chemotherapeutics to magnetic nanoparticles has been around for 30 years, how- ever, no magnetic nanoparticles as delivery systems have yet been approved for clinical practice. Recently, binding of nucleic acids to magnetic nanoparticles has been demonstrated as a successful non-viral transfection method of different cell lines in vitro. With the optimization of this method called magnetofection, it will hopefully become another form of gene delivery for the treatment of cancer. Key words: magnetic nanoparticles; nanotechnology; delivery systems; oncology; magnetofection; cancer therapy; magnetic targeting late 1970’s1, however, magnetically-guided gene Introduction targeting has emerged as rapid and efficient ap- proach in the beginning of the new millennium.2 Nanotechnology is an interdisciplinary field of Magnetic nanoparticles have been explored pre- technological developments on the nanometer dominantly in basic and translational research in scale offering comprehensive applications also to the field of oncology although some of them have biomedicine. Engineering particles a several tens of been already clinically approved as contrast en- nanometers in diameter has opened new possibili- hancing agents for magnetic resonance imaging ties for targeting cells within an organism either for (MRI).3 diagnostic or therapeutic purposes. Magnetically-guided drug or gene targeting using magnetic nanoparticles is a promising ap- Magnetic nanoparticles proach for cancer chemotherapy and cancer gene What are nanoparticles? therapy. The rationale behind these two treatment modalities is based on binding either chemothera- To date, there is no uniform definition of a nano- peutics or nucleic acids onto the surface of mag- particle. According to Kreuter, a nanoparticle is netic nanoparticles which are directed to and/ a solid colloidal particle ranging in size from 1 to or retained at the tumor by means of an external 1000 nm.4 In nanomedicine, »nano« can be applied magnetic field. Researchers have been study- to materials or surfaces that are intentionally al- ing magnetically-guided drug targeting since the tered and manipulated at nanometer scale result- Radiol Oncol 2011; 45(1): 1-16. doi:10.2478/v10019-011-0001-z 2 Prijic S and Sersa G / Magnetic nanoparticles in oncology FIGURE 1. Illustrative demonstration of size comparison of a nanoparticle at the microscopic level with corresponding relations on the macro- scopic level. Sizes at the microscopic level (A-D) are equivalent to the ones at the macroscopic level (E-H). Magnetic nanoparticle coated with a thin inorganic layer (A), magnetic nanoparticle coated with an organic polymer (B), prokaryotic cell (C) and eukaryotic cell (D) are in the same size relation as a mealworm (E), a rat (F), an alligator (G) and a blue whale (H), respectively. ing in new properties.5 Besides the differences in which has a complex crystal structure and unusual size, nanoparticles are also distinguished based on magnetic properties can also display magnetic be- their shape and chemical composition (Table 1). havior after special physicochemical treatment.9 Despite the fact that many nanoparticles meas- Briefly, the magnetic properties of a material are ure more than 100 nm in one dimension, a novel the reflection of magnetization which arises from explanation of a nanoparticle based on the follow- magnetic moments of unpaired electrons due to ing foundations has emerged. First, the majority their orbital motion around the nucleus of an at- of nanoparticles for biomedical applications are om and intrinsic spinning around their axes. Due prepared as colloidal dispersions, i.e. homogenous to the thermal fluctuations of magnetic moments chemical mixtures of two separated phases. The that reverse direction, some magnetic nanoparti- homogeneity of dispersed-phase particles into a cles exhibit superparamagnetic properties which continuous-phase aqueous medium is only pos- are defined as the nonappearance of magnetic be- sible if dispersed-phase particles have a diameter havior when the magnetic field is not present.10 between 5 and 200 nm.6 Second, unique differences Superparamagnetic properties are observed at of physical properties that distinguish nanoparti- sizes smaller than 15 nm for iron oxide maghemite 11 cles from atoms as well as from the bulk material (γ-Fe2O3). Hence, magnetic nanoparticles which are the most prominent below 100 nm. Hence, a are small enough, composed of iron oxide and dis- nanoparticle is defined as a particle of any kind of play magnetic behavior only in the presence of a material which has one or more dimensions equal magnetic field are called superparamagnetic iron to or smaller than 100 nm (Figure 1).7 oxide nanoparticles (SPIONs). It is essential to use SPIONs in biomedical applications since the per- What are magnetic nanoparticles? manent magnetic behavior of magnetic particles within an organism would be redundant or even Nanoparticles consisting of iron, nickel and/or co- destructive when the magnetic field is removed. balt which exhibit magnetic properties are called For example, magnetically induced deformation of magnetic nanoparticles.8 Elemental manganese endosomes containing paramagnetic nanoparticles Radiol Oncol 2011; 45(1): 1-16. Prijic S and Sersa G / Magnetic nanoparticles in oncology 3 TABLE 1. Classification of nano-sized delivery systems by chemical compounds and shape. Magnetic nanoparticles which are most often used in biomedical applications are shadowed CHEMICAL COMPOUNDS SHAPE LIPIDS Egg phosphatidylcholine (EPC), egg phosphatidyl glycerol (EPG) Liposomes NATURAL PROTEINS Human serum albumin (HSA), gelatin Nanoparticles* CARBON HYDRATES Chitosan, alginate Nanoparticles* Dipalmitoyl phosphatidylcholine (DPPC), dimyristoyl phosphatidylcholine (DMPC), dimyristoyl phosphatidylglycerol Liposomes (DMPG), dipalmitoyl phosphatidic acid (DPPA), distearoyl LIPIDS phosphatidylcholine, cholesterol (Ch) Tricaprin, trilaurin, trimylistin, tripalmitin with gliceryl Solid lipid monostearate, cetyl palmitate, stearic acid nanoparticles Homopolymers: Poly(alkylcyanoacrylate) (PACA), poly(2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate) (pHEMA), ORGANIC poly(N-(2-hydroxypropyl)methacrylamide (pHPMA), Dendrimers polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP), poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA), Nanoparicles* polyorthoesters, polycaprolactone (PCL), Nanocomposites SYNTHETIC POLYMERS poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA), Nanobrushes poly(acrylic acid) (PAA), Nanotubes polylactides (PLA) Micelles Copolymers: Nanogels Poly(alkylcyanoacrylate)-co-poly(ethylene glycol), poly(lactid acid)-co-poly(glycolic acid) (PLGA), poly(L,L-lactide-co-L- aspartic acid), poly(ethylene-co-vinyl acetate) (PEVA) Cationic: Sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) Anionic: SURFACTANTS Micelles Cetyl trimethylammonium bromide (CTAB) Non-ionic: Copolymers of poly(ethylene oxide) and poly(propylene oxide) LIPIDS DPPC/Ch/γ-Fe O , Fe O Magnetic liposomes ORGANIC & 2 3 3 4 INORGANIC POLYMERS Ni-Zn-ferrite/SiO2, Fe-Ni/polymer, Co/polymer, PMMA/α-Fe2O3 Nanocomposites COMPOUNDS Ni-Fe/SiO2, Co/SiO2, Fe-Co/SiO2, Fe/Ni-ferrite, Ni-Zn-ferrite/SiO2 Nanocomposites Iron: Nanoparticles* γ-Fe2O3, Fe3O4 MgFe2O4, MnFe2O4, FePt, NiFe2O4 MAGNETIC Nickel: Nanoparticles* NiO, NiFe2O4 Cobalt: Nanorods Co O , CoFe O COMPOUNDS 3 4 2 4 INORGANIC Manganese: Mn3O4, MnO2 CdSe/ZnS Nanocrystals ZnO, Au, Ag, Cu, CdSe/ZnS, GaN, TiO2, C, TiC, VO2, V2O5, PbS, Nanorods CdS, SiC, BiPO , AOB Nanoparticles* NON- 4 MAGNETIC Calcium phosphate Nanocomposites Fullerenes ELEMENTS C Nanotubes * Nanoparticles include nanocapsules and/or nanospheres Radiol Oncol 2011; 45(1): 1-16. 4 Prijic S and Sersa G / Magnetic nanoparticles in oncology was shown by the transmission electron micro- sults in a layer around the particle. The potential scope (TEM).12 difference between the surrounding liquid me- Most studies discussed in this review refer to dium and the layer around the particle is called SPIONs, however not all of them. Hence, the supe- the zeta potential. Particles with a zeta potential rior term magnetic nanoparticles will be used also higher than 30 mV, either positive or negative, will for SPIONs in order to make the manuscript more repel each other, stay asunder and result in a sta- lucid