Evaluation of biodistribution of lipid nanocapsules in rat with a new quantitative method using FRET
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Date
2021-07-09
Authors
Elfatairi, Rana
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Abstract
Despite interesting results offered by nanomedicines, only few nanotherapeutics and nano diagnostics are reaching the market. This could be explained by weak relevance of PK and biodistribution studies due to limits of detection methods. In this project, we used Förster Resonance Energy Transfer (FRET) combined with Nanoparticle Tracking Analysis (NTA) as a new quantative method to study the biodistribution of LNC in rat. First, rats were injected with 50nm-FRET-LNC at different time points and organs (liver, spleen, and lungs) together with the blood were collected. FRET-LNC were then extracted using a newly developed extraction method. Quantitative analysis using FRET and NTA was performed where number of FRET-LNC/g of organs (liver, spleen, and lungs) and number of FRET-LNC/ml of blood was calculated over time. Second, qualitative analysis using confocal microscopy was done to match the quantative data. Surprisingly, confocal images of liver and spleen did not match with quantitative analysis while in lungs both images and quantitative data showed the same results. Thus, a new experiment was performed to determine the cause of this difference in liver and spleen. A mixture of DiI-LNC and DiD-LNC was injected in rat at different time points, both organs (liver and spleen) and blood were collected. Results suggested that confocal microscopy is not efficient in tracking FRET-LNC. However, our extraction method is specific for extracting FRET-LNC in case of blood and lungs, but not for liver and spleen.
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Keywords
Lipid nanocapsules (LNC), Förster resonance energy transfer (FRET)