PEG-PLGA polymers used for ultrasound/fluorescent/MRI contrast agent delivery

PolySciTech (www.polyscitech.com) provides a wide array of biodegradable block copolymers such as PEG-PLGA. Recetnly these types of polymers have been used to deliver superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles and fluorescent dye proving their value for applications as ultrasound contrast agents. Read more: Luo, Binhua, Huajie Zhang, Xuhan Liu, Rong Rao, Yun Wu, and Wei Liu. "Novel DiR and SPIO nanoparticles embedded PEG-PLGA nanobubbles as a multimodalimaging contrast agent." Bio-Medical Materials and Engineering 26, no. s1 (2015): 911-916. http://content.iospress.com/articles/bio-medical-materials-and-engineering/bme1384

“Abstract: Fluorescence dye DiR and superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles (SPIONs) embedded in PEG-PLGA nanobubbles (DiR-SPIO-NBs) were produced using double emulsion method on a membrane of Shirasu porous glass (SPG). The nanobubbles encapsulated with DiR and SPIONs had a liquid core (perfluoropentane) and a PEG-PLGA shell. DiR-SPIO-NBs showed biocompatibility based on MTT cytotoxicity and hemolysis studies. The PFP encapsulated in the nanobubbles experienced phase transition under ultrasonic irradation. Nanobubbles dispersed well in saline over 3 months, and the relaxivity was 127.9 mM−1s−1, suggesting that it could be used as a contrast agent in MRI. The MR and fluorescence images in vivo demonstrated that the signal intensity in the spleen and liver was significantly enhanced with the treatment of nanobubbles. In addition, results of ultrasound images suggested that the nanobubbles had persistent contrast ability. In conclusion, nanobubbles could be utilized as an US/MRI/fluorescence contrast agent.”