Incorporating 131I into a PAMAM (G5.0) dendrimer-conjugate: design of a theranostic nanosensor for medullary thyroid carcinoma

We report the synthesis and purification of a targeting probe for Medullary Thyroid Carcinoma (MTC) by incorporating 131I into PAMAM (G5.0) dendrimers. Both the 131I labeled control dendrimer (131I–PAMAM (G5.0) without attached targeting peptide) and the MTC-targeting dendrimer (131I–PAMAM (G5.0) attached to VTP (vascular targeting peptide)) were labeled with the radioisotope 131I by applying the iodogen method. The resulting G5.0 dendrimers were purified by means of ultracentrifugation. The labelling efficiencies and radiochemical purities vs. time were determined by paper chromatography. The radiolabeling efficiencies of 131I–PAMAM (G5.0) and 131I–PAMAM (G5.0) were 93 ± 1% and 85 ± 2%, respectively. 131I–PAMAM (G5.0) did exhibit small, but significant changes in radiochemical purity as a function of time after labelling. The highest observed highest purity was 82 ± 2%. 131I–PAMAM (G5.0)–VTP did display larger changes in radiochemical purity as a function of time after labelling, maximally 80 ± 2%. The stability of the two probes and their binding behavior to the human medullary thyroid cancer cell line (TT) were observed in vitro. Compared to the negative control group (consisting of Na131I), the TT cell binding rate of 131I–PAMAM (G5.0)–VTP was significantly increased at 48 h and 72 h (P 0.05). These findings have been confirmed by performing MTT assays. These results confirm earlier findings, which demonstrated fast uptake of PAMAM (G5.0) by various cell types.