Highly Specific Biocompatible Nanoparticles for Differentiation between Cancer and Inflammation Using Conventional PET-CT

Functional imaging techniques provide the ability to detect tumors even before structural modifications occur. Positron Emission Tomography (PET) in combination with glucose analogue ¹⁸F-2-fluoro-2-deoxy-d-glucose (FDG) is currently the most important functional imaging technique for visualization of tumors by taking advantage of the increased glucose metabolic activity of cancer cells. However, a major shortcoming of this technology is the non-specificity for tumor tissues as other biological events, such as infection or inflammation, which are usually induced by cancer therapy techniques, also result in increased glucose metabolic activity. Since PET scan combined with FDG measures the uptake of glucose, it is inconclusive and does not discriminate between cancer recurrence and post treatment inflammatory conditions. In previous research, our lab created a technique that is able to distinguish between cancer and inflammatory processes, using gold-nanoparticles (GNP), by utilizing the enhanced permeability and retention (EPR) effect. Since GNP are far from being used in clinical trials, in this research we developed a highly specific, biocompatible nanoparticle for differentiation between cancer and inflammation using conventional PET-CT technique. A lipid-based nanocarrier was functionalized with both glucose and a metal ion in order to increase cellular uptake and to enable nanoparticle detection, the metal ion will be replaced in later stages by its radioactive isotope. The functionalized nanoparticles facilitate specific cancer detection and cancer follow-up capabilities that don`t exist today.