The Funding for this study was provided in part by the grant from the Henry Ford Health Systems Michigan State University Health Sciences Alliance to A.M. and A.dC. We thank Dr. Danielle R. Ferguson for overseeing animal studies at Michigan State University and for approving this video.

All procedures involving animal subjects have been approved by the Michigan State University Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC). Female outbred athymic nude mice were purchased from Jackson Labs (strain #007850) at 7 weeks of age and allowed to acclimate for 1 week prior to implantation surgery. Mice were approximately 21-25 g at the time of implant. U251 cells expressing firefly luciferase were generated and provided by Dr. Ana deCarvalho12.
1. C...

Iron Oxide Nanoparticles for Image-Guided Therapy Delivery in Murine Glioblastoma

<ol>
	<li>Tan, A. C., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Management+of+glioblastoma:+State+of+the+art+and+future+directions.">Management of glioblastoma: State of the art and future directions.</a> CA Cancer J Clin. 70 (4), 299-312 (2020).</li><li>Cihoric, N., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Current+status+and+perspectives+of+interventional+clinical+trials+for+glioblastoma+-+analysis+of+clinicaltrials.Gov.">Current status and perspectives of interventional clinical trials for glioblastoma - analysis of clinicaltrials.Gov.</a> Radiat Oncol. 12 (1), 1 (2017).</li><li>Lee, S. 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I. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Blood-brain+delivery+methods+using+nanotechnology.">Blood-brain delivery methods using nanotechnology.</a> Pharmaceutics. 10 (4), 268 (2018).</li><li>Ohta, S., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Investigating+the+optimum+size+of+nanoparticles+for+their+delivery+into+the+brain+assisted+by+focused+ultrasound-induced+blood-brain+barrier+opening.">Investigating the optimum size of nanoparticles for their delivery into the brain assisted by focused ultrasound-induced blood-brain barrier opening.</a> Sci Rep. 10 (1), 18220 (2020).</li><li>Teplyuk, N. M., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Therapeutic+potential+of+targeting+microrna-10b+in+established+intracranial+glioblastoma:+First+steps+toward+the+clinic.">Therapeutic potential of targeting microrna-10b in established intracranial glioblastoma: First steps toward the clinic.</a> EMBO Mol Med. 8 (3), 268-287 (2016).</li><li>Dube, T., Kumar, N., Bishnoi, M., Panda, J. J. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Dual+blood-brain+barrier-glioma+targeting+peptide-poly(levodopamine)+hybrid+nanoplatforms+as+potential+near+infrared+phototheranostic+agents+in+glioblastoma.">Dual blood-brain barrier-glioma targeting peptide-poly(levodopamine) hybrid nanoplatforms as potential near infrared phototheranostic agents in glioblastoma.</a> Bioconjug Chem. 32 (9), 2014-2031 (2021).</li><li>Yoo, B., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Design+of+nanodrugs+for+mirna+targeting+in+tumor+cells.">Design of nanodrugs for mirna targeting in tumor cells.</a> J Biomed Nanotechnol. 10 (6), 1114-1122 (2014).</li><li>Medarova, Z., Pham, W., Farrar, C., Petkova, V., Moore, A. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=In+vivo+imaging+of+sirna+delivery+and+silencing+in+tumors.">In vivo imaging of sirna delivery and silencing in tumors.</a> Nature Medicine. 13 (3), 372-377 (2007).</li><li>Chen, M., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Co-administration+of+temozolomide+(tmz)+and+the+experimental+therapeutic+targeting+mir-10b,+profoundly+affects+the+tumorigenic+phenotype+of+human+glioblastoma+cells.">Co-administration of temozolomide (tmz) and the experimental therapeutic targeting mir-10b, profoundly affects the tumorigenic phenotype of human glioblastoma cells.</a> Front Mol Biosci. 10, 1179343 (2023).</li><li>Irtenkauf, S. M., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Optimization+of+glioblastoma+mouse+orthotopic+xenograft+models+for+translational+research.">Optimization of glioblastoma mouse orthotopic xenograft models for translational research.</a> Compar Med. 67 (4), 300-300 (2017).</li><li>Moore, A., Marecos, E., Bogdanov, A., Weissleder, R. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Tumoral+distribution+of+iron+oxide+nanoparticles+in+a+rodent+model.">Tumoral distribution of iron oxide nanoparticles in a rodent model.</a> Radiology. 214 (2), 568-574 (2000).</li><li>Moore, A., Medarova, Z., Potthast, A., Dai, G. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=In+vivo+targeting+of+underglycosylated+muc-1+tumor+antigen+using+a+multimodal+imaging+probe.">In vivo targeting of underglycosylated muc-1 tumor antigen using a multimodal imaging probe.</a> Cancer Res. 64 (5), 1821-1827 (2004).</li><li>Yoo, B., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Therapy+targeted+to+the+metastatic+niche+is+effective+in+a+model+of+stage+iv+breast+cancer.">Therapy targeted to the metastatic niche is effective in a model of stage iv breast cancer.</a> Sci Rep. 7, 45060 (2017).</li><li>Dadfar, S. 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Several critical steps across the different methods of validating the accumulation of the nanoparticles across the BBB can be decisive for the success of the protocol. Beginning with the orthotopic implantation of GBM cells, it is important to ensure that the suture lines of the skull are visible after drying the bone; this aids in the accurate placement of the tumor cells. For drilling through the skull, it is best to apply light pressure to the drill site and begin drilling to make a shallow impression in the bone. Onc...

Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) is the highest grade of astrocytoma for which there is virtually no cure. Approximately 15,000 people are diagnosed with glioblastoma annually, which has a dismal median survival of about 15 months and a 5-year survival rate of 5%1. In the past decades, there has been marginal improvement in prognosis despite multiple efforts to advance therapeutic options. The current standard of care for GBM includes maximal surgical resection, when feasible, followed by radiotherapy and chemotherapy2. Temozolomide (TMZ), the chemotherapy of choice, was the latest therapy for glioblastoma discovered to show notable clinical efficacy; however, at least 50% of GBM tumors show TMZ resistance3. In spite of this rigorous therapeutic regimen, there is still a significant clinical need for improved glioblastoma therapy.
The development of therapeutics for GBM and other brain-related diseases is significantly hampered by the selective nature of the blood-brain barrier (BBB). The BBB is a physiological barrier comprised of endothelial cells, pericytes, and astrocyte feet-ends, which creates the semi-permeable membrane between the circulatory system and the brain, restricting the free passage of molecules and cells into the brain4. While protective in normal physiology and critical for brain homeostasis, the BBB prevents many therapeutics from reaching the brain, complicating the treatment of GBM. Efforts to enhance the delivery of therapeutics to GBM have led to the development of nanoparticle-based delivery vehicles, focused ultrasound drug delivery enhancement, and receptor-mediated drug delivery5,6.
Nanoparticles have emerged as a promising medium for developing therapeutics for a myriad of diseases, including cancers. The application of nanoparticles for imaging and therapeutic purposes in GBM has been attempted using various nanoparticle constructs7,8. With the focus on delivering drugs to GBM in conjunction with in vivo imaging of the delivery, the proposed approach utilizes magnetic nanoparticles (MN) consisting of an iron oxide core and covered by dextran for stability. The magnetic properties of these nanoparticles afford for their detection by magnetic resonance (MR) imaging, while simple conjugation chemistry to the aminated dextran coating allows for conjugation of therapeutic moieties such as RNA molecules, additional targeting moieties, or imaging moieties (such as Cy5.5 near-infrared optical dye)9,10. In addition to the imaging capabilities, the nano platform is able to extend the half-life of RNA therapeutics by protecting the oligonucleotide from endogenous nucleases, improving therapeutic delivery. Here, the application of this nano platform for in vivo delivery of therapeutic oligonucleotides (termed MN-anti-miR10b) to GBM, monitored by in vivo imaging, is presented. Previously, the ability of this nano platform to accumulate was demonstrated in GBM cells in vitro, causing significant loss of viability of tumor cells11. Prior to performing therapeutic in vivo studies, it is necessary to demonstrate in vivo delivery of this nano platform to GBM tumors in animal models. To achieve this, orthotopic GBM animal models were produced, and intravenous administration of the construct was performed followed by in vivo imaging. Outlined here are the protocols of these studies showing accumulation in the tumor region confirmed by in vivo imaging and ex vivo microscopy.

<table border="1" fo:keep-together.within-page="1" fo:keep-with-next.within-page="always">
	<tbody>
		<tr>
			<td>Athymic nude &#34;J:NU&#34; mice</td>
			<td>Jackson Laboratory</td>
			<td>RRID:IMSR_JAX:007850</td>
			<td>Immunocompromised mouse model</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>0.25% Trypsin</td>
			<td>Gibco</td>
			<td>25200-056</td>
			<td>Cell culture reagent for U251</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>1.7 mL microcentrifuge tube</td>
			<td>DOT Scientific</td>
			<td>RN1700-GMT</td>
			<td>For tissue collection</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>10 &#181;L, Neuros Syringe, Model 1701 RN, 33 gauge, Point Style 4</td>
			<td>Hamilton</td>
			<td>65460-06</td>
			<td>Syringe for intracranial implantation of tumor cells</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>3M Vetbond</td>
			<td>3M</td>
			<td>1469SB</td>
			<td>Tissue adhesive for surgical site closure</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>4% Paraformaldehyde&#160;</td>
			<td>Thermo Scientific</td>
			<td>J199943-K2</td>
			<td>Tissue fixing solution</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>70% isopropoyl alcohol wipe</td>
			<td>Cardinal</td>
			<td>MW-APL</td>
			<td>Topical antiseptic wipe for tumor implantation and tail vein injection</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Aperio Versa</td>
			<td>Leica</td>
			<td></td>
			<td>For scanning of stained tissue section slides</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Betadine Surgical Scrub</td>
			<td>Purdue</td>
			<td>6761815101</td>
			<td>Topical antiseptic for tumor implantation</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>BioSpec 70/30</td>
			<td>Bruker</td>
			<td></td>
			<td>Magnetic resonance imaging scanner</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Bone Wax</td>
			<td>Medline</td>
			<td>DYNJBW25</td>
			<td>Bone wax for sealing implantation site</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Burrs for Micro drill</td>
			<td>F.S.T.</td>
			<td>19007-05</td>
			<td>Drill burr used to make hole in skull for tumor implantation</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>DAPI Fluoromount-G</td>
			<td>SouthernBiotech</td>
			<td>0100-20</td>
			<td>Tissue mounting media containing DAPI stain</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Dulbecco&#8217;s Modified Eagle Medium (DMEM)</td>
			<td>Gibco</td>
			<td>11995-065</td>
			<td>Cell culture media for U251</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Extra Fine Graefe Forceps</td>
			<td>F.S.T.</td>
			<td>11150-10</td>
			<td>Sugical tool for tumor implantation</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Fetal bovine serum</td>
			<td>Corning</td>
			<td>35-010-CV</td>
			<td>Cell culture media supplement for U251</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Fine Scissors - Sharp 10.5cm</td>
			<td>F.S.T.</td>
			<td>14060-10</td>
			<td>Sugical tool for tumor implantation</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Glydo (Lidocaine)</td>
			<td>Sagent</td>
			<td>673-76</td>
			<td>Topical analgesic for surgical site</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Ideal Micro Drill</td>
			<td>CellPoint Scientific</td>
			<td>67-1200A</td>
			<td>Drill used to make hole in skull for tumor implantation</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Insulin syringe 1CC 29G X 1/2&#34;</td>
			<td>Becton, Dickinson</td>
			<td>324704</td>
			<td>Syringe for D-Luciferin injection and tail vein injection of nanoparticles</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Isoflurane</td>
			<td>Covetrus</td>
			<td>11695067772</td>
			<td>Anethesia</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Isoflurane vaporizer</td>
			<td>SOMNI Scientific</td>
			<td>VS6002</td>
			<td>Anethesia apparatus</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>IVIS SpectrumCT In Vivo Imaging System</td>
			<td>PerkinElmer/Revvity</td>
			<td>128201</td>
			<td>Bioluminescence and fluorescence imaging scanner</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>IVISbrite D-Luciferin Potassium Salt</td>
			<td>PerkinElmer/Revvity</td>
			<td>122799-100MG</td>
			<td>Substrate for bioluminescence imaging</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Ketaset (Ketamine)</td>
			<td>Zoetis</td>
			<td>10004027</td>
			<td>Anesthetic for tumor implantation surgery</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Ketofen (Ketoprofen)</td>
			<td>Zoetis</td>
			<td>10004031</td>
			<td>Analgesic for tumor implantation surgery</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Leica CM1950</td>
			<td>Leica</td>
			<td>CM1950</td>
			<td>For cryosectioning of OCT-embedded samples</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>PBS</td>
			<td>Gibco</td>
			<td>14190-144</td>
			<td>Cell culture reagent and cell suspension solution for implantation of U251</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Penicillin-streptomycin</td>
			<td>Gibco</td>
			<td>15140-122</td>
			<td>Antibiotic for cell culture media for U251</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Puralube vet ointment</td>
			<td>MWI Veterinary</td>
			<td>27505</td>
			<td>Opthalmic eye ointment for protection during tumor implantation</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Ruler</td>
			<td>F.S.T.</td>
			<td>18000-30</td>
			<td>Used to measure drill site for implanation</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Tissue-Tek Cryomold&#160; Intermediate 15 x 15 x 5 mm</td>
			<td>Sakura</td>
			<td>4566</td>
			<td>Collection mold for collecting tissue samples</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Tissue-Tek&#160;O.C.T. Compound</td>
			<td>Sakura</td>
			<td>4583</td>
			<td>Freezing compound for collecting tissue samples</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>U-251 MG cell line human</td>
			<td>Millapore Sigma</td>
			<td>9063001</td>
			<td>Human glioblastoma cell line</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Xylazine Injectable Solution, 100 mg/ml</td>
			<td>Covetrus</td>
			<td>1XYL006</td>
			<td>Paralytic for tumor implantation surgery</td>
		</tr>
	</tbody>
</table>

nanoparticle delivery of an oligonucleotide payload in a glioblastoma multiforme animal model

Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) is the most common and aggressive form of primary brain malignancy for which there is no cure. The blood-brain barrier is a significant hurdle in the delivery of therapies to GBM. Reported here is an image-guided, iron oxide-based therapeutic delivery nano platform capable of bypassing this physiological barrier by virtue of size and accumulating in the tumor region, delivering its payload. This 25 nm nano platform consists of crosslinked dextran-coated iron oxide nanoparticles labeled with Cy5.5 fluorescent dye and containing antisense oligonucleotide as a payload. The magnetic iron oxide core enables tracking of the nanoparticles through in vivo magnetic resonance imaging, while Cy5.5 dye allows tracking by optical imaging. This report details the monitoring of the accumulation of this nanoparticle platform (termed MN-anti-miR10b) in orthotopically implanted glioblastoma tumors following intravenous injection. In addition, it provides insight into the in vivo delivery of RNA oligonucleotides, a problem that has hampered the translation of RNA therapeutics into the clinic.

Author Spotlight: Innovative Cancer Therapies with Iron Oxide Nanoparticles for Glioblastoma Treatment

Nanoparticle Delivery of an Oligonucleotide Payload in a Glioblastoma Multiforme Animal Model

Our research focuses on the development of cancer therapies using our iron oxide nanoparticle delivery platform. The advantage of our nanoplatform is its ability to cross the blood brain barrier and accumulate in the tumor, delivering therapeutics. The goal is to add to the small arsenal of available therapies for glioblastoma.The blood-brain barrier presents a challenge for the delivery of therapeutics to glioblastoma. Many compounds are unable to cross the barrier, making systemic administration of drugs for glioblastoma treatment near impossible. Currently available systemic treatments for this disease have many off target toxicities.Our nanoplatform overcomes this limitation by helping therapeutic moieties traverse the blood-brain barrier. The delivery of the therapeutic oligonucleotide to the tumor site can be monitored by various imaging modalities, making it a clinically relevant tool. The modular nature of the nanoplatform allows for tailor-made therapies to be developed, offering flexibility to address the vast molecular heterogeneity in glioblastoma subtypes.This precision medicine approach with superior blood-brain barrier penetrance, allows us to expand upon limited therapeutic options.

MN-anti-miR10b was synthesized and characterized, as described previously11. Transmission electron microscopy of MN-anti-miR10b shows the morphology and polydispersity of the nano platform (Figure 1B). This nano platform has an average size of 25.12 &#177; 0.34 nm with a zeta potential of 13.18 &#177; 1.47 mV (Figure 1C,D). In these studies, nude athymic mice were orthotopically implanted with U251 human ...

The blood-brain barrier is a significant hurdle in the delivery of therapies for glioblastoma, a disease for which there is no cure. Here, we report an in vivo image-guided iron oxide therapeutic nano platform that can bypass this physiological barrier by virtue of size and accumulate in the tumor.

Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) is the most common and aggressive form of primary brain malignancy for which there is no cure. The blood-brain barrier is a ...