Photophysical and biological assessment of coumarin-6 loaded polymeric nanoparticles as a cancer imaging agent

Abstract

Polymeric nanoparticles can prove beneficial in oncology as they sidestep limitations associated with traditional small-molecule pharmaceuticals. With respect to drug delivery, polymeric nanoparticles possess structural features that make them suitable as carriers for therapy and imaging contrast, as their core/shell morphology offers an effective method of transport that provides increased tumor access with reduced side effects, especially for drugs with low water solubility. Herein, we present a polymeric nanoparticle made from pluronic F127 and vitamin E-TPGS encapsulating coumarin-6 for the optical imaging of cancer. We explored the biophysical properties of the construct using an array of optical and physical techniques, evaluated its uptake in breast cancer cell lines, the in vivo toxicokinetics in zebrafish, and its biodistribution profile in mouse xenograft models bearing PC3 tumors overexpressing the prostate-specific membrane antigen (PSMA). The biophysical characterization of the nanoformulation, combined with its selective uptake by cancer cells, its low in vivo toxicity profile, and effective tumor targeting demonstrate the versatility and potential of this nanoparticle formulation for drug delivery applications.