Preparation and In Vitro and In Vivo Evaluation of Lung Cancer-Targeted Carbon Nanotube Ultrasound Contrast Agents

Abstract

Objective: To prepare a carbon nanotube ultrasound contrast agent (MWCNT-PEG-HH) targeting lung cancer and evaluate its targeting effect In Vitro and In Vivo. Methods: The PEGylated multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNT-PEG) were synthesized and detected by infrared spectroscopy; the Hedgehog antibody was attached to the PEGylated multi-walled carbon nanotubes; the morphology was observed by transmission electron microscopy. On human lung cancer cell line A549, the cellular uptake was detected by flowcytometry, and the intracellular distribution was observed by confocal microscope; the toxicity and biocompatibility of multi-walled carbon nanotubes were detected by CCK-8 method; ultrasonic imaging was used The instrument was used to evaluate its In Vitro and In Vivo targeting ability In Vitro and in lung cancer nude mouse xenograft models. Results: The average zeta potential of the prepared lung cancer-targeted carbon nanotube ultrasound contrast agent was (−38.9±4.28 mV). Flowcytometry showed that MWCNT had good uptake ability; confocal microscopy showed that MWCNT-PEG-HH has a strong ability to target cells; CCK-8 experiments show that the synthesized MWCNT-PEG -HH was non-toxic; the results of contrast-enhanced ultrasound In Vitro and In Vivo show that MWCNT-PEG-HH had good targeting properties. Conclusion: MWCNT-PEG-HH is expected to be a high-efficiency and low-toxicity nano-ultrasound contrast agent in lung cancer.