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Poly(Lactic-co-Glycolic) Acid as a Carrier for Imaging Contrast Agents

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Abstract

Purpose

With the broadening field of nanomedicine poised for future molecular level therapeutics, nano- and microparticles intended for the augmentation of either single- or multimodal imaging are created with PLGA as the chief constituent and carrier.

Methods

Emulsion techniques were used to encapsulate hydrophilic and hydrophobic imaging contrast agents in PLGA particles. The imaging contrast properties of these PLGA particles were further enhanced by reducing silver onto the PLGA surface, creating a silver cage around the polymeric core.

Results

The MRI contrast agent Gd-DTPA and the exogenous dye rhodamine 6G were both encapsulated in PLGA and shown to enhance MR and fluorescence contrast, respectively. The silver nanocage built around PLGA nanoparticles exhibited strong near infrared light absorbance properties, making it a suitable contrast agent for optical imaging strategies such as photoacoustic imaging.

Conclusions

The biodegradable polymer PLGA is an extremely versatile nano- and micro-carrier for several imaging contrast agents with the possibility of targeting diseased states at a molecular level.

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Acknowledgements

Generous grants from the American Heart Association and the National Science Foundation Integrative Graduate Education and Research Traineeship Program (IGERT) funded this work.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Biomedical Engineering, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, USA

    Amber L. Doiron, Kimberly A. Homan & Stanislav Emelianov

  2. Appian Labs, Austin, TX, USA

    Lisa Brannon-Peppas

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  1. Amber L. Doiron
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  2. Kimberly A. Homan
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  3. Stanislav Emelianov
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  4. Lisa Brannon-Peppas
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Correspondence to Lisa Brannon-Peppas.

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Doiron, A.L., Homan, K.A., Emelianov, S. et al. Poly(Lactic-co-Glycolic) Acid as a Carrier for Imaging Contrast Agents. Pharm Res 26, 674–682 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11095-008-9786-x

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