Multifunctional MRI/PET Nanobeacons Derived from the in Situ Self-Assembly of Translational Polymers and Clinical Cargo through Coalescent Intermolecular Forces

Novel multifunctional platforms are needed for oncology in order to assist physicians during surgery and chemotherapy. In the present study, we show that polymeric nanobeacons, consisting of the glucose-based polymer dextran, can be used to guide surgery and improve drug delivery. For imaging, the nanobeacons stably retained the positron emitter 89-zirconium and the MRI contrast agent gadolinium, without the need of a chelator. In addition to using them for PET imaging, the Zr-89-nanobeacons guided the surgical resection of sentinel lymph nodes, utilizing their inherent Cerenkov luminescence. Through weak electrostatic interactions, the nanoparticles carried combinations of chemotherapeutics for the simultaneous inhibition of oncogenic pathways, resulting in enhanced tumor regression. The nanobeacons also allowed monitoring of drug release via MRI, through the quenching of the gadolinium signal by the coloaded drug, making them a new multifunctional theranostic nanotechnology platform for the clinic.