Chapter 17
Size-, Shape- and Charge-Dependent
Pharmacokinetics of Radiolabeled
Nanoparticles
Feng Chen
Abstract The pharmacokinetics (PK) of nanoparticles is believed to be controlled
by a complex array of interrelated physicochemical and biological factors, and an
in-depth knowledge of the nanoparticle-organ interaction is critical for not only the
nanoplatform design but also its potential clinical translation. Since, it largely
defines their in vivo performance and potential toxicity. It is generally accepted that
the biodistribution of nanoparticle is determined by the hydrodynamic size, shape,
surface chemistry, in vivo stability and the administration route of the injected
nanoparticles. The optimal characteristics for the nanoparticle, to be used in the
clinical field, is being investigated and not yet clearly known. So far, highly sensitive and quantitative nuclear imaging is perhaps the best tool for assessing the PK
profile of radiolabeled nanoparticles in vivo. However, since nuclear imaging
technique detects the radioisotopes but not the nanoparticles themselves, the radiolabeling technique and the in vivo stability of the radiolabeled nanoparticles are
critical and needs to be well addressed to achieve a reliable evaluation of
nanoparticle fate in vivo.
17.1 Introduction
The last three decades have witnessed rapid advances in not only controlling the
synthesis and surface modification of nanoparticles with varied size, shape and
surface charge [1–6], but also better understanding of nanoparticle-cell interactions
[7–14]. However, due to the complexity of the in vivo system and lack of reliable
non-invasive, highly sensitive and quantitative imaging tools, challenges still exist
when investigating the nanoparticle-organ interaction and visualizing the impact of
differences in nanoparticle size, shape and surface charge on nanoparticle’s pharmacokinetics (PK). The PK of nanoparticles is believed to be controlled by a
F. Chen (&)
Department of Radiology, Sloan Kettering Institute for Cancer Research,
New York, NY 10065, USA
e-mail: chenf@mskcc.org
© Springer International Publishing AG, part of Springer Nature 2018
D. S. Lee (ed.), Radionanomedicine, Biological and Medical Physics,
Biomedical Engineering, https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-67720-0_17
313
Size-, Shape- and Charge-Dependent
Pharmacokinetics of Radiolabeled
Nanoparticles
Feng Chen
Abstract The pharmacokinetics (PK) of nanoparticles is believed to be controlled
by a complex array of interrelated physicochemical and biological factors, and an
in-depth knowledge of the nanoparticle-organ interaction is critical for not only the
nanoplatform design but also its potential clinical translation. Since, it largely
defines their in vivo performance and potential toxicity. It is generally accepted that
the biodistribution of nanoparticle is determined by the hydrodynamic size, shape,
surface chemistry, in vivo stability and the administration route of the injected
nanoparticles. The optimal characteristics for the nanoparticle, to be used in the
clinical field, is being investigated and not yet clearly known. So far, highly sensitive and quantitative nuclear imaging is perhaps the best tool for assessing the PK
profile of radiolabeled nanoparticles in vivo. However, since nuclear imaging
technique detects the radioisotopes but not the nanoparticles themselves, the radiolabeling technique and the in vivo stability of the radiolabeled nanoparticles are
critical and needs to be well addressed to achieve a reliable evaluation of
nanoparticle fate in vivo.
17.1 Introduction
The last three decades have witnessed rapid advances in not only controlling the
synthesis and surface modification of nanoparticles with varied size, shape and
surface charge [1–6], but also better understanding of nanoparticle-cell interactions
[7–14]. However, due to the complexity of the in vivo system and lack of reliable
non-invasive, highly sensitive and quantitative imaging tools, challenges still exist
when investigating the nanoparticle-organ interaction and visualizing the impact of
differences in nanoparticle size, shape and surface charge on nanoparticle’s pharmacokinetics (PK). The PK of nanoparticles is believed to be controlled by a
F. Chen (&)
Department of Radiology, Sloan Kettering Institute for Cancer Research,
New York, NY 10065, USA
e-mail: chenf@mskcc.org
© Springer International Publishing AG, part of Springer Nature 2018
D. S. Lee (ed.), Radionanomedicine, Biological and Medical Physics,
Biomedical Engineering, https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-67720-0_17
313