Molecular Engineering of Ultrabright Biomimetic NanoGhost for Site-Selective Tumor Imaging and Biodistribution.

Abstract

Optically active ultrabright imaging agents are shown to delineate tumor location with deep tissue visualization in pre noclinical tumor models. NanoGhosts (NGs) particles are reconstructed from the cell membrane and integrated with organic fluorophores to attain ultra-brightness for solid tumor imaging. Moreover, the integration of amphiphilic and lipophilic molecules reveals structural characteristics of NGs (≈70 nm), which also alter their brightness. Upon intravenous administration (10 mg kg^-1 single dose), these ultrabright NGs (778 MESF) enable the high-resolution of tumor site and real-time tracking of vital organs with high-contrast fluorescence signals. Engineered biomimetic NGs demonstrates better resolution and tissue penetration as compared to the clinically approved indocyanine green (ICG). High precision in tumor detection (0.5 h) and strong tumor retention (24 h which is further up to 30^th day) without affecting healthy tissues ensure the future scope of NGs in early-stage cancer imaging. These findings suggest that these NGs mimic the biological characteristics of native cells, enabling them to evade immune clearance and target the solid tumor naturally.