Bimodal Perfluorocarbon Nanoemulsions for Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma Targeting

The aim of this study was to perform the detection of folate receptor (FR)-positive tumors with a bimodal imaging contrast agent, a perfluorocarbon (PFC)/rhodamine nanoemulsion, providing both F-19-based magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and fluorescence imaging capabilities. The PFC/rhodamine nanoemulsion was further infused with phospholipid-anchored folate to improve the ability to target FR-expressing tumors. The preferential accumulation of the FR-targeted bimodal nanoemulsion in FR-positive tumor sites was monitored by both F-19-MRI and optical imaging. The FR-targeted PFC nanoemulsion had no significant effect on cell viability, and the size and fluorescence signal of PFC nanoemulsion were very stable. These nanoprobes were successfully delivered into FR-positive tumor xenograft models and showed significantly enhanced signal intensities of F-19-MRI and fluorescence imaging in the tumor area. The folate-PFC/rhodamine nanoemulsion has a great potential to serve as a useful optical and F-19-MRI agent for the diagnosis and targeting of FR-positive tumor.