PERFECTA Loaded Lipid Cubosomes for F-MRI: Physico-Chemical Characterization.

Fiche publication

Date publication

juin 2026

Journal

Chemistry (Weinheim an der Bergstrasse, Germany)

Auteurs

Membres identifiés du Cancéropôle Est :
Dr SCHMUTZ Marc

Tous les auteurs :
Milesi P, Bona BL, Chirizzi C, Campanile M, Del Vecchio P, Schmutz M, Sartor V, Berti D, Metrangolo P, Baldelli Bombelli F, Lonetti B

Lien Pubmed

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/42257490

Résumé

Liquid crystalline nanoparticles (LCNPs), such as cubosomes, are promising platforms for drug delivery and bioimaging due to their unique internal structures and biocompatibility. Here, we developed phytantriol-based cubosomes stabilized with Pluronic F-127 and loaded with PERFECTA, a fluorinated probe with 36 magnetically equivalent fluorine atoms, for use as F-MRI nanoprobes. PERFECTA loaded cubosomes were synthesized via solvent evaporation and characterized using DLS, SAXS, Cryo-TEM, DSC, F -NMR, and F -MRI. Results show that PERFECTA-loaded cubosomes retain the Pn3m cubic phase, achieving encapsulation efficiencies over 70% across PERFECTA concentrations (1-10 mg/mL). Cryo-TEM revealed PERFECTA segregation into spherical domains, either embedded within cubosomes or as isolated nanoparticles. SAXS and DSC analyses suggested a partial PERFECTA integration into the phytantriol bilayer, affecting the internal liquid-crystalline order. PERFECTA loaded cubosomes demonstrated excellent colloidal stability in biologically relevant media, maintaining structural integrity and fluorine content within 24 h in cell culture medium with fetal bovine serum. Thanks to their favorable relaxometric properties (T = 497 ± 50 ms, T = 281 ± 4 ms) and robust F MRI signals, these cubosomes hold significant potential as stable, efficient nanotheranostic platforms for biomedical imaging and drug delivery.