Nanostructures, methods of synthesizing thereof, and methods of use thereof
A nanostructure and methods of synthesizing same. In one embodiment, the nanostructure includes a magnetic iron oxide nanoparticle, a hydrophobic protection structure including at least an amphiphilic copolymer, wherein the hydrophobic protection structure encapsulates the magnetic iron oxide nanoparticle, and at least one amino-terminal fragment (ATF) peptide or epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) antibody conjugated to the amphiphilic copolymer.
1. A nanostructure, comprising:
a. a magnetic iron oxide nanoparticle;
b. a hydrophobic protection structure including at least an amphiphilic copolymer, wherein the hydrophobic protection structure at least partially encapsulates the magnetic iron oxide nanoparticle; and
c. at least one epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) antibody conjugated to the hydrophobic protection structure.
2. The nanostructure of claim 1 , wherein the at least one EGFR antibody is labeled with a fluorescence dye.
3. The nanostructure of claim 2 , wherein the fluorescence dye is a Cy5.5 or an ICG.
4. The nanostructure of claim 1 , wherein the at least one EGFR antibody is a single chain antibody to the epidermal growth factor receptor (ScFvEGFR).
5. The nanostructure of claim 1 , being capable of targeting to tumor cells expressing EGFR.
6. The nanostructure of claim 1 , wherein the amphiphilic copolymer comprises an amphiphilic block copolymer, an amphiphilic random copolymer, an amphiphilic alternating copolymer, an amphiphilic periodic copolymer, or any combination thereof.
7. The nanostructure of claim 6 , wherein the amphiphilic copolymer comprises an amphiphilic block copolymer selected from the group consisting of an amphiphilic diblock copolymer, a triblock copolymer, or any combination thereof.
8. The nanostructure of claim 7 , wherein the amphiphilic block copolymer includes an ABC triblock structure having one or more grafted 8-carbon alkyl side chains.
9. The nanostructure of claim 8 , wherein the ABC triblock structure includes a poly-butylacrylate segment, a poly-ethylacrylate segment, and a poly-methacrylic acid segment.
10. The nanostructure of claim 1 , wherein the amphiphilic copolymer has a molecular weight of about 10,000 to 200,000.
11. The nanostructure of claim 1 , wherein the magnetic iron oxide nanoparticle has a core size of about 1-50 nm.
12. The nanostructure of claim 1 , further comprising a probe disposed on the hydrophobic protection structure, wherein the probe comprises an antibody, a polypeptide, a polynucleotide, a drug molecule, an inhibitor compound, or any combination thereof.
13. A pharmaceutical composition comprising the nanostructure of claim 1 .
14. The pharmaceutical composition of claim 13 , further comprising a probe releasably attached onto the nanostructure, wherein the probe comprises an antibody, a polypeptide, a polynucleotide, a drug molecule, an inhibitor compound, or any combination thereof.
15. A method for target imaging and/or therapy, comprising:
introducing the nanostructure of claim 1 into a subject; and
determining the presence of the target in the subject by detecting the nanostructure.
16. The method of claim 15 , wherein the at least one EGFR antibody is labeled with a fluorescence dye.
17. The method of claim 15 , wherein the nanostructure is visible in magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).
18. The method of claim 15 , wherein the magnetic iron oxide nanoparticle has a core size of about 1-50 nm.
19. The method of claim 15 , wherein the nanostructure further comprises a probe deposed on or encapsulated in the hydrophobic protection structure, and wherein the probe comprises an antibody, a polypeptide, a polynucleotide, a drug molecule, an inhibitor compound, or any combination thereof.
20. The method of claim 15 , wherein the target is tumor cells expressing EGFR.
21. The method of claim 20 , wherein the tumor cells is at least one of pancreatic cancer cells or breast cancer cells.
22. The method of claim 15 , wherein the introducing step is performed by a subcutaneous injection or a systemic injection.
23. The method of claim 22 , wherein when the introducing step is performed by a systemic injection, a plurality of the nanostructure is accumulated substantially in the target region of the subject.
24. The method of claim 15 , wherein the determining step is performed in vivo.
25. The method of claim 15 , wherein determining comprises acquiring an image of the target.
26. The method of claim 15 , wherein the determining step includes a passive targeting process or an active targeting process.
27. The method
of claim 15 , wherein introducing the nanostructure into the subject causes selective accumulation of the nanostructure in a target region of the subject.
28. The method of claim 15 , wherein determining the presence of the target in the subject comprises:
acquiring at least one image of the target; and
determining the presence of the target in the subject from the acquired at least one image of the target.
29. The method of claim 28 , wherein acquiring at least one image of the target comprises acquiring at least one of an MRI image and a florescence image.