AUTHOR=Kong Lingdan , Zhu Jingyi , Su Hongxing , Zhao Lingzhou , Lu Yi , Zhu Meilin , Sun Wenjie 

TITLE=Phenylboronic acid conjugated multifunctional nanogels with 131I-labeling for targeted SPECT imaging and radiotherapy of breast adenocarcinoma

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Bioengineering and Biotechnology

VOLUME=10

YEAR=2022

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/bioengineering-and-biotechnology/articles/10.3389/fbioe.2022.973141

DOI=10.3389/fbioe.2022.973141

ISSN=2296-4185

ABSTRACT=<p>We report a new <sup>131</sup>I-labeling functional platform for targeted single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) imaging and radiotherapy of breast adenocarcinoma. In this study, polyethyleneimine (PEI) based nanogels (P.NH<sub>2</sub> NGs) were prepared by water/oil polymerization, modified with targeted agent phenylboronic acid (PBA), and labeled with radionuclide <sup>131</sup>I. The NGs without <sup>131</sup>I-labeling own a spherical structure, uniform size distribution, and good cell viability. After <sup>131</sup>I-labeling, the obtained <sup>131</sup>I-PBA-PHP NGs displayed much higher cellular uptake than the non-targeted NGs due to the good softness and fluidity of NGs and the PBA targeting. The <italic>in vivo</italic> results demonstrated that <sup>131</sup>I-PBA-PHP NGs could specifically target breast cancer cells and efficiently aggregate into xenograft breast adenocarcinoma for tumor SPECT imaging and specific radiotherapy. The developed <sup>131</sup>I-labeling NGs may be used as a promising platform for efficient radioactive theranostic nanoplatform of tumor.</p>