Cell Tolerability and Biodistribution in Mice of Indocyanine Green-Loaded Lipid Nanoparticles
Considering toxicity requirements for clinical translation of fluorescence imaging applications, the use of biocompatible carriers for designing near infrared emitting contrast agents appears as an attractive alternative to semiconductor nanocrystals. Lipid nanoparticles (LNP) have
been designed to serve as carriers for indocyanine green (ICG), the presently only human-use approved near infrared dye. The cytotoxicity and hemocompatibility of these nanoparticle-based probes are determined in vitro, respectively in mouse 3T3 fibroblasts and human blood samples.
Comparative biodistribution of free ICG and ICG-LNP in mice is monitored, and an ex vivo fluorescence organ quantification is performed considering large animal cohorts. Good tolerability and very low hemolytic activity are demonstrated for naked and ICG-loaded LNP. Interestingly, ICG-LNP
lead to long-term plasma fluorescence (>24 hours) but also a partial intestinal reabsorption of ICG between 5 and 24 hours after injection. This novel ICG nanoformulation is foreseen to expand rapidly the field of clinical fluorescence imaging applications.
Keywords: BIODISTRIBUTION; CYTOTOXICITY; FLUORESCENCE IMAGING; HEMOCOMPATIBILITY; INDOCYANINE GREEN; LIPID NANOPARTICLES; PHARMACOKINETICS
Document Type: Research Article
Publication date: 01 August 2012
- Journal of Biomedical Nanotechnology (JBN) is a peer-reviewed multidisciplinary journal providing broad coverage in all research areas focused on the applications of nanotechnology in medicine, drug delivery systems, infectious disease, biomedical sciences, biotechnology, and all other related fields of life sciences.
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