Theranostic gadolinium-based nanoparticles AGuIX®: in vivo imaging and safety evaluation

IntroductionA new efficient type of gadolinium (Gd)-based theranostic agent (AGuIX®) has recently been developed for MRI-guided radiotherapy.1 These nanoparticles consist of a polysiloxane network surrounded by Gd chelates. Nanoparticles, which contain high-Z contrast agents such as Gd-based nanoparticles, increase the sensitivity of the tumor to radiation. Owing to their small size (3 +/- 0.1 nm), AGuIX® typically exhibit biodistributions that are almost ideal for diagnostic and therapeutic purposes.2 Multi-imaging properties and safety evaluation of the Gd-based nanoparticles have been investigated before their clinical transfer. MethodsGd-based nanoparticles have been administrated to rats-bearing tumor and non-human primates for MRI and PET investigations. In parallel, regulatory investigations have been performed on both rodents and non-human primates.