Dr. Sam Wickline Abstract:

Nanoemulsions for Multimodal Molecular Imaging and Targeted Therapeutics

The emergence of targeted nanotechnologies for molecular imaging and cell-directed drug delivery is poised to impact the diagnosis and management of coronary artery disease and cancer.

We have developed self assembling targeted nanoemulsions that allow sensitive and specific imaging of the early features of plaque and tumor growth such as angiogenesis with the use of magnetic resonance (MRI), ultrasound, or nuclear imaging methods.

The strategy for imaging entails binding nanoparticles that contain payloads of imaging agents (e.g., gadolinium for MRI) to integrins that are expressed on the neovasculature (e.g., alpha-v beta-3). We also have shown that angiogenesis in peripheral vascular disease can be delineated with this molecular imaging approach. These particles also can deliver large payloads of drugs such as fumagillan, rapamycin or paclitaxel that can suppress angiogenesis, reduce restenosis, inhibit inflammatory processes in the vascular wall and slow tumor growth.

Drug delivery is accomplished by a unique mechanism of interaction between particles and cell membranes that involves vesicle-cell fusion, followed by lipid mixing and drug delivery directly to the cell cytoplasm without the need for endocytosis. The process is energy requiring, specific to the cell that is targeted, rapid and efficient.

These and other types of nanoparticle platforms are expected to pave the way for targeted delivery of agents that might change the natural history of these diseases and offer new approaches to individualized medicine.