The overarching goal of this proposal is to develop novel fluorescence contrast agents that can enhance tumors intraoperatively to guide surgical tumor removal. Nanoparticles used in this proposal will be derived from modifications to hyaluronic acid (HLA). These nanoparticles have the ability entrap near infrared (NIR) fluorescent dyes. Upon entrapment, these NIR fluorescent dyes are quenched. In addition, HLA is a ligand for the cell surface receptor CD44 and is degraded by hyaluronidases. Ideally, specific degradation of HLA-based nanoparticles by hyaluronidases will release free dye that is again fluorescent. Both hyaluronidases and CD44 are overexpressed in a variety of tumors, including invasive ductal carcinoma, which is investigated in this proposal. The HLA-based nanoparticles would comprise a new class of nanoparticle biosensors that specifically identify diseased cells. A key innovative step is that these NIR biosensors can be readily detected by new image-guided surgical instrumentation to provide real-time image-guidance on tumor status. Indeed, an image-guided surgery system has been designed that excites NIR fluorophores with a directed excitation beam. NIR emission is detected spectrally and by CCD detectors in an overhead multicamera detector. The combination of NIR biosensors and intraoperative imaging addresses a key public health concern, the inability to exact complete surgical removal during the first surgery, which can result in a high rate of recurrent tumors. Recurrent tumors, can decrease patient prognosis, change therapeutic regimens, and have severe psychological consequences in addition to the overall costs of additional surgery to health care system. The integration of highly innovative technology to improve patient welfare for those undergoing tumor removal is addressed in four aims: (1) optimize the loading of NIR dye and colloidal properties of NIR dyes through modifying HLA molecular weight, introducing crosslinking chemistry, and coating nanoparticles with poly(ethylene glycol), (2) determine the mechanism for fluorescence activation and CD44 targeting, (3) perform in vivo tumor contrast studies, including image-guided surgery efficacy, and (4) an overall safety evaluation of the agents that includes detailed biodistribution studies, inflammatory and immune system activation in vitro, and blood pharmacokinetics. All in vivo studies will be performed in rodents; mice bearing human breast tumor xenografts, healthy mice, and rats. It's hypothesized that image-guided tumor removal will decrease recurrent disease, while nanoparticle entrapped dye will specifically enhance tumors and their margins resulting in more sensitive cancer detection compared to controls.

Public Health Relevance

This proposal seeks to develop nanoparticle imaging agents that have fluorescence activated by tumors. A major impact of this innovative technology would be to guide cancer removal during surgery by instrumentation that detects the contrast agent. Overall, this award utilizes a novel nanoparticle platform combined with new image-guided surgical instrumentation to improve surgical outcomes.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute of Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering (NIBIB)
Type
Research Project (R01)
Project #
7R01EB019449-02
Application #
9071684
Study Section
Enabling Bioanalytical and Imaging Technologies Study Section (EBIT)
Program Officer
Conroy, Richard
Project Start
2015-07-15
Project End
2018-06-30
Budget Start
2015-07-15
Budget End
2016-06-30
Support Year
2
Fiscal Year
2015
Total Cost
$331,852
Indirect Cost
$111,352
Name
University of Nebraska Medical Center
Department
Other Basic Sciences
Type
Schools of Pharmacy
DUNS #
168559177
City
Omaha
State
NE
Country
United States
Zip Code
68198
Souchek, Joshua J; Wojtynek, Nicholas E; Payne, William M et al. (2018) Hyaluronic acid formulation of near infrared fluorophores optimizes surgical imaging in a prostate tumor xenograft. Acta Biomater 75:323-333
Payne, William M; Svechkarev, Denis; Kyrychenko, Alexander et al. (2018) The role of hydrophobic modification on hyaluronic acid dynamics and self-assembly. Carbohydr Polym 182:132-141
Svechkarev, Denis; Kyrychenko, Alexander; Payne, William M et al. (2018) Probing the self-assembly dynamics and internal structure of amphiphilic hyaluronic acid conjugates by fluorescence spectroscopy and molecular dynamics simulations. Soft Matter 14:4762-4771
Qi, Bowen; Crawford, Ayrianne J; Wojtynek, Nicholas E et al. (2018) Indocyanine green loaded hyaluronan-derived nanoparticles for fluorescence-enhanced surgical imaging of pancreatic cancer. Nanomedicine 14:769-780
Bhattacharya, D; Svechkarev, D; Souchek, J J et al. (2017) Impact of structurally modifying hyaluronic acid on CD44 interaction. J Mater Chem B 5:8183-8192
Payne, William M; Hill, Tanner K; Svechkarev, Denis et al. (2017) Multimodal Imaging Nanoparticles Derived from Hyaluronic Acid for Integrated Preoperative and Intraoperative Cancer Imaging. Contrast Media Mol Imaging 2017:9616791
Hill, Tanner K; Davis, Amanda L; Wheeler, Frances B et al. (2016) Development of a Self-Assembled Nanoparticle Formulation of Orlistat, Nano-ORL, with Increased Cytotoxicity against Human Tumor Cell Lines. Mol Pharm 13:720-8
Hill, Tanner K; Mohs, Aaron M (2016) Image-guided tumor surgery: will there be a role for fluorescent nanoparticles? Wiley Interdiscip Rev Nanomed Nanobiotechnol 8:498-511
Kelkar, Sneha S; Hill, Tanner K; Marini, Frank C et al. (2016) Near infrared fluorescent nanoparticles based on hyaluronic acid: Self-assembly, optical properties, and cell interaction. Acta Biomater 36:112-21
Hill, Tanner K; Kelkar, Sneha S; Wojtynek, Nicholas E et al. (2016) Near Infrared Fluorescent Nanoparticles Derived from Hyaluronic Acid Improve Tumor Contrast for Image-Guided Surgery. Theranostics 6:2314-2328

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