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. 2022 Apr 22;14(5):917. doi: 10.3390/pharmaceutics14050917

Figure 5.

Figure 5

A targeted gas-generating nanotheranostic particle for ultrasound-guided treatment of neuroblastoma. (A) Schematic illustration of ligand-modified gas-generating nanoparticles for cancer-specific cellular uptake and pH-triggered gas generation. PLG nanoparticles loaded with fine-grained calcium carbonate provide theranostic functionality for cancer detection and treatment. pH change triggered carbon dioxide gas generation and these bubbles enabled simultaneous US imaging and necrosis of cancer without using conventional contrast or anti-cancer agents. (B) In vitro ultrasound signals of non-gas-generating NP and gas-generating nanoparticles (GNP9, GNP18, and GNP24) under neutral and acidic conditions ([GNP] = 10 mg/mL). (C) In vivo ultrasound imaging of tumors after intravenous injection of RVG-NP and RVG-GNP24 into a tumor-bearing mouse model (25 mg/kg, polymer/mouse at 1 and 30 min). (D) Changes in tumor volume of mice treated with saline (black diamond), RVG-NP (green square), RVG-GNP9 (blue circle), and RVG-GNP24 (red triangle) (10 mg/kg polymer/mouse and 20 mg/kg docetaxel/mouse; five daily intravenous injections; *** p < 0.001). Figures are adapted based on Ref. [144] with permission. Copyright 2016 Elsevier.