Browsing by Author "Vaidyanathan, Ganesan"

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    ItemOpen Access
    A Plasmonic Gold Nanostar Theranostic Probe for In Vivo Tumor Imaging and Photothermal Therapy.
    (Theranostics, 2015) Liu, Yang; Ashton, Jeffrey R; Moding, Everett J; Yuan, Hsiangkuo; Register, Janna K; Fales, Andrew M; Choi, Jaeyeon; Whitley, Melodi J; Zhao, Xiaoguang; Qi, Yi; Ma, Yan; Vaidyanathan, Ganesan; Zalutsky, Michael R; Kirsch, David G; Badea, Cristian T; Vo-Dinh, Tuan
    Nanomedicine has attracted increasing attention in recent years, because it offers great promise to provide personalized diagnostics and therapy with improved treatment efficacy and specificity. In this study, we developed a gold nanostar (GNS) probe for multi-modality theranostics including surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) detection, x-ray computed tomography (CT), two-photon luminescence (TPL) imaging, and photothermal therapy (PTT). We performed radiolabeling, as well as CT and optical imaging, to investigate the GNS probe's biodistribution and intratumoral uptake at both macroscopic and microscopic scales. We also characterized the performance of the GNS nanoprobe for in vitro photothermal heating and in vivo photothermal ablation of primary sarcomas in mice. The results showed that 30-nm GNS have higher tumor uptake, as well as deeper penetration into tumor interstitial space compared to 60-nm GNS. In addition, we found that a higher injection dose of GNS can increase the percentage of tumor uptake. We also demonstrated the GNS probe's superior photothermal conversion efficiency with a highly concentrated heating effect due to a tip-enhanced plasmonic effect. In vivo photothermal therapy with a near-infrared (NIR) laser under the maximum permissible exposure (MPE) led to ablation of aggressive tumors containing GNS, but had no effect in the absence of GNS. This multifunctional GNS probe has the potential to be used for in vivo biosensing, preoperative CT imaging, intraoperative detection with optical methods (SERS and TPL), as well as image-guided photothermal therapy.
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    ItemOpen Access
    Astatine-211 labeled anti-HER2 5F7 single domain antibody fragment conjugates: radiolabeling and preliminary evaluation.
    (Nucl Med Biol, 2017-09-19) Choi, Jaeyeon; Vaidyanathan, Ganesan; Koumarianou, Eftychia; Kang, Choong Mo; Zalutsky, Michael R
    INTRODUCTION: Derived from heavy chain only camelid antibodies, ~15-kDa single-domain antibody fragments (sdAbs) are an attractive platform for developing molecularly specific imaging probes and targeted radiotherapeutics. The rapid tumor accumulation and normal tissue clearance of sdAbs might be ideal for use with (211)At, a 7.2-h half-life α-emitter, if appropriate labeling chemistry can be devised to trap (211)At in cancer cells after sdAb binding. This study evaluated two reagents, [(211)At]SAGMB and iso-[(211)At]SAGMB, for this purpose. METHODS: [(211)At]SAGMB and iso-[(211)At]SAGMB, and their radioiodinated analogues [(131)I]SGMIB and iso-[(131)I]SGMIB, were synthesized by halodestannylation and reacted with the anti-HER2 sdAb 5F7. Radiochemical purity, immunoreactivity and binding affinity were determined. Paired-label internalization assays on HER2-expressing BT474M1 breast carcinoma cells directly compared [(131)I]SGMIB-5F7/[(211)At]SAGMB-5F7 and iso-[(131)I]SGMIB-5F7/iso-[(211)At]SAGMB-5F7 tandems. The biodistribution of the two tandems was evaluated in SCID mice with subcutaneous BT474M1 xenografts. RESULTS: Radiochemical yields for Boc2-iso-[(211)At]SAGMB and Boc2-[(211)At]SAGMB synthesis, and efficiencies for coupling of iso-[(211)At]SAGMB and [(211)At]SAGMB to 5F7 were similar, with radiochemical purities of [(211)At]SAGMB-5F7 and iso-[(211)At]SAGMB-5F7 >98%. iso-[(211)At]SAGMB-5F7 and [(211)At]SAGMB-5F7 had immunoreactive fractions >80% and HER2 binding affinities of less than 5 nM. Internalization assays demonstrated high intracellular trapping of radioactivity, with little difference observed between corresponding (211)At- and (131)I-labeled 5F7 conjugates. Higher BT474M1 intracellular retention was observed from 1-6 h for the iso-conjugates (iso-[(211)At]SAGMB-5F7, 74.3 ± 2.8%, vs. [(211)At]SAGMB-5F7, 63.7 ± 0.4% at 2 h) with the opposite behavior observed at 24 h. Peak tumor uptake for iso-[(211)At]SAGMB-5F7 was 23.4 ± 2.2% ID/g at 4 h, slightly lower than its radioiodinated counterpart, but significantly higher than observed with [(211)At]SAGMB-5F7. Except in kidneys and lungs, tumor-to-normal organ ratios for iso-[(211)At]SAGMB-5F7 were greater than 10:1 by 2 h, and significantly higher than those for [(211)At]SAGMB-5F7. CONCLUSION: These (211)At-labeled sdAb conjugates, particularly iso-[(211)At]SAGMB-5F7, warrant further evaluation for targeted α-particle radiotherapy of HER2-expressing cancers.
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    D-Amino acid peptide residualizing agents bearing N-hydroxysuccinimido- and maleimido-functional groups and their application for trastuzumab radioiodination.
    (Nucl Med Biol, 2015-01) Pruszynski, Marek; Koumarianou, Eftychia; Vaidyanathan, Ganesan; Chitneni, Satish; Zalutsky, Michael R
    INTRODUCTION: Proteins that undergo receptor-mediated endocytosis are subject to lysosomal degradation, requiring radioiodination methods that minimize loss of radioactivity from tumor cells after this process occurs. To accomplish this, we developed the residualizing radioiodination agent N(ϵ)-(3-[(*)I]iodobenzoyl)-Lys(5)-N(α)-maleimido-Gly(1)-D-GEEEK (Mal-D-GEEEK-[(*)I]IB), which enhanced tumor uptake but also increased kidney activity and necessitates generation of sulfhydryl moieties on the protein. The purpose of the current study was to synthesize and evaluate a new D-amino acid based agent that might avoid these potential problems. METHODS: N(α)-(3-iodobenzoyl)-(5-succinimidyloxycarbonyl)-D-EEEG (NHS-IB-D-EEEG), which contains 3 D-glutamates to provide negative charge and a N-hydroxysuccinimide function to permit conjugation to unmodified proteins, and the corresponding tin precursor were produced by solid phase peptide synthesis and subsequent conjugation with appropriate reagents. Radioiodination of the anti-HER2 antibody trastuzumab using NHS-IB-D-EEEG and Mal-D-GEEEK-IB was compared. Paired-label internalization assays on BT474 breast carcinoma cells and biodistribution studies in athymic mice bearing BT474M1 xenografts were performed to evaluate the two radioiodinated D-peptide trastuzumab conjugates. RESULTS: NHS-[(131)I]IB-D-EEEG was produced in 53.8%±13.4% and conjugated to trastuzumab in 39.5%±7.6% yield. Paired-label internalization assays with trastuzumab-NHS-[(131)I]IB-D-EEEG and trastuzumab-Mal-D-GEEEK-[(125)I]IB demonstrated similar intracellular trapping for both conjugates at 1h ((131)I, 84.4%±6.1%; (125)I, 88.6%±5.2%) through 24h ((131)I, 60.7%±6.8%; (125)I, 64.9%±6.9%). In the biodistribution experiment, tumor uptake peaked at 48 h (trastuzumab-NHS-[(131)I]IB-D-EEEG, 29.8%±3.6%ID/g; trastuzumab-Mal-D-GEEEK-[(125)I]IB, 45.3%±5.3%ID/g) and was significantly higher for (125)I at all time points. In general, normal tissue levels were lower for trastuzumab-NHS-[(131)I]IB-D-EEEG, with the differences being greatest in kidneys ((131)I, 2.2%±0.4%ID/g; (125)I, 16.9%±2.8%ID/g at 144 h). CONCLUSION: NHS-[(131)I]IB-D-EEEG warrants further evaluation as a residualizing radioiodination agent for labeling internalizing antibodies/fragments, particularly for applications where excessive renal accumulation could be problematic.
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    ItemOpen Access
    Low-level whole-brain radiation enhances theranostic potential of single-domain antibody fragments for human epidermal growth factor receptor type 2 (HER2)-positive brain metastases.
    (Neuro-oncology advances, 2022-01) Procissi, Daniele; Jannetti, Stephen A; Zannikou, Markella; Zhou, Zhengyuan; McDougald, Darryl; Kanojia, Deepak; Zhang, Hui; Burdett, Kirsten; Vaidyanathan, Ganesan; Zalutsky, Michael R; Balyasnikova, Irina V

    Background

    Single-domain antibody fragments (aka VHH, ~ 13 kDa) are promising delivery systems for brain tumor theranostics; however, achieving efficient delivery of VHH to intracranial lesions remains challenging due to the tumor-brain barrier. Here, we evaluate low-dose whole-brain irradiation as a strategy to increase the delivery of an anti- human epidermal growth factor receptor type 2 (HER2) VHH to breast cancer-derived intracranial tumors in mice.

    Methods

    Mice with intracranial HER2-positive BT474BrM3 tumors received 10-Gy fractionated cranial irradiation and were evaluated by noninvasive imaging. Anti-HER2 VHH 5F7 was labeled with 18F, administered intravenously to irradiated mice and controls, and PET/CT imaging was conducted periodically after irradiation. Tumor uptake of 18F-labeled 5F7 in irradiated and control mice was compared by PET/CT image analysis and correlated with tumor volumes. In addition, longitudinal dynamic contrast-enhanced MRI (DCE-MRI) was conducted to visualize and quantify the potential effects of radiation on tumor perfusion and permeability.

    Results

    Increased 18F-labeled 5F7 intracranial tumor uptake was observed with PET in mice receiving cranial irradiation, with maximum tumor accumulation seen approximately 12 days post initial radiation treatment. No radiation-induced changes in HER2 expression were detected by Western blot, flow cytometry, or on tissue sections. DCE-MRI imaging demonstrated transiently increased tumor perfusion and permeability after irradiation, consistent with the higher tumor uptake of 18F-labeled anti-HER2 5F7 in irradiated mice.

    Conclusion

    Low-level brain irradiation induces dynamic changes in tumor vasculature that increase the intracranial tumor delivery of an anti-HER2 VHH, which could facilitate the use of radiolabeled VHH to detect, monitor, and treat HER2-expressing brain metastases.
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    ItemOpen Access
    Modular nanotransporters: a versatile approach for enhancing nuclear delivery and cytotoxicity of Auger electron-emitting 125I.
    (EJNMMI Res, 2012-10-29) Slastnikova, Tatiana A; Koumarianou, Eftychia; Rosenkranz, Andrey A; Vaidyanathan, Ganesan; Lupanova, Tatiana N; Sobolev, Alexander S; Zalutsky, Michael R
    UNLABELLED: BACKGROUND: This study evaluates the potential utility of a modular nanotransporter (MNT) for enhancing the nuclear delivery and cytotoxicity of the Auger electron emitter 125I in cancer cells that overexpress the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR). METHODS: MNTs are recombinant multifunctional polypeptides that we have developed for achieving selective delivery of short-range therapeutics into cancer cells. MNTs contain functional modules for receptor binding, internalization, endosomal escape and nuclear translocation, thereby facilitating the transport of drugs from the cell surface to the nucleus. The MNT described herein utilized EGF as the targeting ligand and was labeled with 125I using N-succinimidyl-4-guanidinomethyl-3-[125I]iodobenzoate (SGMIB). Membrane binding, intracellular and nuclear accumulation kinetics, and clonogenic survival assays were performed using the EGFR-expressing A431 epidermoid carcinoma and D247 MG glioma cell lines. RESULTS: [125I]SGMIB-MNT bound to A431 and D247 MG cells with an affinity comparable to that of native EGF. More than 60% of internalized [125I]SGMIB-MNT radioactivity accumulated in the cell nuclei after a 1-h incubation. The cytotoxic effectiveness of [125I]SGMIB-MNT compared with 125I-labeled bovine serum albumin control was enhanced by a factor of 60 for D247 MG cells and more than 1,000-fold for A431 cells, which express higher levels of EGFR. CONCLUSIONS: MNT can be utilized to deliver 125I into the nuclei of cancer cells overexpressing EGFR, significantly enhancing cytotoxicity. Further evaluation of [125I]SGMIB-MNT as a targeted radiotherapeutic for EGFR-expressing cancer cells appears warranted.
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    Synthesis and preliminary evaluation of 5-[18F] fluoroleucine.
    (Curr Radiopharm, 2016-12-30) Chin, Bennett B; McDougald, Darryl; Weitzel, Douglas H; Hawk, Thomas; Reiman, Robert E; Zalutsky, Michael R; Vaidyanathan, Ganesan
    BACKGROUND: Amino acid transporters, such as LAT1, are overexpressed in aggressive prostate and breast carcinomas, directly influencing pathways of growth and proliferation. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study is to synthesize and characterize a novel 18F labeled leucine analog, 5-[18F]fluoroleucine, as a potential imaging agent for aggressive tumors which may not be amenable to imaging by FDG PET. METHODS: 5-fluoroleucine was synthesized and characterized, and its 18F-labeled analog was synthesized from a mesylate precursor. First, breast cancer cell line assays were performed to evaluate uptake of L-leucine and other essential amino acids. Both L-leucine and 5-[18F]fluoroleucine were tested for uptake and accumulation over time, and for uptake via LAT1. Biodistribution studies were performed to estimate radiation dosimetry for human studies. Small animal PET / CT studies of a breast cancer were performed to evaluate in vivo 5-[18F]fluoroleucine tumor uptake. RESULTS: Breast cancer cell lines showed increasing high net accumulation of L-leucine. Both L-leucine and 5-[18F]fluoroleucine showed increasing uptake over time in in vitro tumor cell assays, and uptake was also shown to occur via LAT1. The biodistribution study of 5-[18F]fluoroleucine showed rapid renal excretion, no significant in vivo metabolism, and acceptable dosimetry for use in humans. In vivo small animal PET / CT imaging of a breast cancer xenograft showed uptake of 5-[18F]fluoroleucine in the tumor, which progressively increased over time. CONCLUSION: 5-[18F]fluoroleucine is a leucine analog which may be useful in identifying tumors with high or upregulated expression of amino acid transporters, providing additional information that may not be provided by FDG PET.