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Figure 5 | Journal of Translational Medicine

Figure 5

From: Recent progress towards development of effective systemic chemotherapy for the treatment of malignant brain tumors

Figure 5

The prototype of an imageable nanoparticle bearing chemotherapy within the 7 to 10 nm size range: The Gd-G5-doxorubicin dendrimer. A) An illustration of the Gd-G5-doxorubicin dendrimer. Doxorubicin is conjugated to the dendrimer terminal amines by a pH-sensitive hydrazone bond, which facilitates the rapid release of doxorubicin following particle endocytosis into brain tumor cell lysosomal compartments. B) Annular dark-field scanning transmission electron microscopy image of Gd-G5-doxorubicin dendrimers. C) In vitro fluorescence microscopy of cultured RG-2 glioma cells incubated for 4 hours in media containing Gd-G5-doxorubicin dendrimers at a 600 nM concentration. The red fluorescence in the cytoplasm represents Gd-G5-doxorubicin dendrimers within the cytoplasm of RG-2 glioma cells. The red fluorescence within the RG-2 cell nuclei represents free doxorubicin that has been released from the Gd-G5-doxorubicn dendrimers following cleavage of the hydrazone bond, since particles larger than Gd-G2 dendrimers are too large to pass through the nuclear pores. D) T2-weighted anatomic scan image and T1-weighted dynamic contrast-enhanced MRI scan Gd concentration map images at various time points up to 60 minutes following Gd-G5-doxorubicn dendrimer infusion. The Gd-G5-doxorubicin dendrimer was administered intravenously over 2 minutes at a Gd dose of 0.09 mmol Gd/kg, which is equivalent to a doxorubicin dose of 8 mg/kg. The T2-weighted anatomic scan image shows the location of the RG-2 glioma in the right caudate of rat brain, which has a tumor volume of 16 mm3. The first T1-weighted dynamic contrast-enhanced MRI scan image displays the lack of contrast enhancement prior to Gd-G5 doxorubicin dendrimer infusion. The second T1-weighted dynamic contrast-enhanced MRI scan image confirms contrast enhancement in the vasculature immediately after Gd-G5-doxorubicin dendrimer infusion. The third T1-weighted dynamic contrast-enhanced MRI scan image shows that at 60 minutes following the Gd-G5-doxorubicin dendrimer infusion there is significant Gd-G5-doxorubicin accumulation within the RG-2 glioma tumor extravascular extracellular space, which confirms that the Gd-G5-doxorubicin dendrimer has extravasated slowly across the BBTB over timer due to its long blood half-life. The white arrow highlights that there is positive contrast enhancement of normal brain tissue, which indicates that there is extravasation of the Gd-G5-doxorubicin dendrimer across the normal BBB. E) Percent change in RG-2 malignant glioma volume within 24 hours. One group of orthotopic RG-2 glioma bearing animals received one intravenous 8 mg/kg dose of Gd-G5-doxorubicin dendrimer with respect to doxorubicin (n = 7), and the other group of glioma bearing animals received one 8 mg/kg dose of free doxorubicin (n = 7). Pre-treatment whole RG-2 glioma tumor volumes calculated based on initial T2-weighted anatomic scans acquired immediately prior to agent administration, and post-treatment whole RG-2 glioma tumor volumes calculated based on repeat T2-weighted anatomic scans acquired within 22 ± 2 hours for the Gd-G5-doxorubicin group and 24 ± 1 hour for the free doxorubicin group. One dose of the Gd-G5-doxorubicin dendrimer is significantly more effective than one dose of free doxorubicin at inhibiting the growth of orthotopic RG-2 malignant gliomas for approximately 24 hours. Student's two-tailed paired t-test p value < 0.0008.

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