4d multimodal nanomedicines made of nonequilibrium au-fe alloy nanoparticles

TY - JOUR

T1 - 4d multimodal nanomedicines made of nonequilibrium au-fe alloy nanoparticles

AU - Amendola, Vincenzo

AU - Torresan, Veronica

AU - Forrer, Daniel

AU - Guadagnini, Andrea

AU - Badocco, Denis

AU - Pastore, Paolo

AU - Casarin, Maurizio

AU - Selloni, Annabella

AU - Coral, Diego

AU - Ceolin, Marcelo

AU - Fernandez Van Raap, Marcela B.

AU - Busato, Alice

AU - Marzola, Pasquina

AU - Spinelli, Antonello E.

N1 - Publisher Copyright: © 2020 American Chemical Society.

PY - 2020/10/27

Y1 - 2020/10/27

N2 - Several examples of nanosized therapeutic and imaging agents have been proposed to date, yet for most of them there is a low chance of clinical translation due to longterm in vivo retention and toxicity risks. The realization of nanoagents that can be removed from the body after use remains thus a great challenge. Here, we demonstrate that nonequilibrium gold-iron alloys behave as shape-morphing nanocrystals with the properties of self-degradable multifunctional nanomedicines. DFT calculations combined with mixing enthalpy-weighted alloying simulations predict that Au-Fe solid solutions can exhibit self-degradation in an aqueous environment if the Fe content exceeds a threshold that depends upon element topology in the nanocrystals. Exploiting a laserassisted synthesis route, we experimentally confirm that nonequilibrium Au-Fe nanoalloys have a 4D behavior, that is, the ability to change shape, size, and structure over time, becoming ultrasmall Au-rich nanocrystals. In vivo tests show the potential of these transformable Au-Fe nanoalloys as efficient multimodal contrast agents for magnetic resonance imaging and computed X-ray absorption tomography and further demonstrate their self-degradation over time, with a significant reduction of long-term accumulation in the body, when compared to benchmark gold or iron oxide contrast agents. Hence, Au-Fe alloy nanoparticles exhibiting 4D behavior can respond to the need for safe and degradable inorganic multifunctional nanomedicines required in clinical translation.

AB - Several examples of nanosized therapeutic and imaging agents have been proposed to date, yet for most of them there is a low chance of clinical translation due to longterm in vivo retention and toxicity risks. The realization of nanoagents that can be removed from the body after use remains thus a great challenge. Here, we demonstrate that nonequilibrium gold-iron alloys behave as shape-morphing nanocrystals with the properties of self-degradable multifunctional nanomedicines. DFT calculations combined with mixing enthalpy-weighted alloying simulations predict that Au-Fe solid solutions can exhibit self-degradation in an aqueous environment if the Fe content exceeds a threshold that depends upon element topology in the nanocrystals. Exploiting a laserassisted synthesis route, we experimentally confirm that nonequilibrium Au-Fe nanoalloys have a 4D behavior, that is, the ability to change shape, size, and structure over time, becoming ultrasmall Au-rich nanocrystals. In vivo tests show the potential of these transformable Au-Fe nanoalloys as efficient multimodal contrast agents for magnetic resonance imaging and computed X-ray absorption tomography and further demonstrate their self-degradation over time, with a significant reduction of long-term accumulation in the body, when compared to benchmark gold or iron oxide contrast agents. Hence, Au-Fe alloy nanoparticles exhibiting 4D behavior can respond to the need for safe and degradable inorganic multifunctional nanomedicines required in clinical translation.

KW - Alloys

KW - Au nanoparticles

KW - CT

KW - Degradable materials

KW - Fe nanoparticles

KW - MRI

KW - Nanomedicine

UR - https://www.scopus.com/pages/publications/85094983931

UR - https://www.scopus.com/pages/publications/85094983931#tab=citedBy

U2 - 10.1021/acsnano.0c03614

DO - 10.1021/acsnano.0c03614

M3 - Article

C2 - 32877170

SN - 1936-0851

VL - 14

SP - 12840

EP - 12853

JO - ACS Nano

JF - ACS Nano

IS - 10

ER -