Dextrin-based nanomagnetogel: in vivo biodistribution and stability

The biodistribution profile of a new dextrin nanomagnetogel, which consists on -Fe2O3 superparamagnetic nanoparticles loaded within a polymeric matrix of modified dextrin, was studied in mice. The nanomagnetogel bear a monomodal size distribution profile (average diameter 110 nm) close to neutral surface charge and higher relaxivity (r2 = 215-248 mM-1s-1 and r2/r1 = 13-11) than those of commercial formulations (r2 = 160-177 mM-1s-1 and r2/r1 = 4-7). Also the observed blood half-life - approximately 4 hours - is superior to that of similar commercially available formulations, which remain few minutes in circulation. Pegylation resulted in 1.7 and 1.2-fold lower accumulation in the liver and spleen, respectively, within the first 24 h. Noteworthy, a good correlation was obtained between the amount of polymer (quantified by scintigraphy) in the spleen, 48 h after administration, and the amount of iron physically loaded through hydrophobic interactions (quantified by ICP) indicating the absence of iron leakage from the polymeric matrix. This study provides evidence on the in vivo stability of a self-assembled nanomagnetogel, a much relevant feature which is seldom reported in the literature.The authors thank the Project “strong>BioHealth - Biotechnology and Bioengineering approaches to improve health quality”, Ref. NORTE-07-0124-FEDER-000027, co-funded by the Programa Operacional Regional do Norte (ON.2 O Novo Norte), QREN, FEDER. The authors thank the Magnisense Corporation for providing a MIAplex Reader and CFGCG the EU COST TD1004 Action “Theragnostics Imaging and Therapy”. The authors thank Professor Cidália Botelho for the iron analysis by Atomic Absorbance Spectroscopy at the Oporto University, Chemical Engineering Department. C. Gonçalves, J. P. Silva, J. A. Martins, and M. F. M. Ferreira acknowledge FCT Portugal, for postdoc grants SFRH/BPD/70524/2010 and SFRH/BPD/64958/2009, sabbatical grant SFRH/BSAB/ 1328/2013 and PhD grant SFRH/BD/63994/2009, respectively