Radiolabeled florescent-magnetic graphene oxide nanosheets: probing the biodistribution of a potential PET-MRI hybrid imaging agent for detection of fibrosarcoma tumor

Radiolabeled graphene oxide (GO) nanosheets has been one of the most extensively studied nanoplatform for in vivo radioisotope delivery. Herein, we describe the functionalization of the surface of GO nanosheets with Fe₃O₄ magnetic nanoparticles, cysteine amino acid as an interface ligand, and cadmium telluride quantum dots.

To enable In vivo PET imaging, the GO@Fe₃O₄-cys-CdTe QDs were labeled with ⁶⁸Ga to yield [⁶⁸Ga] Ga-Go@ Fe₃O₄-Cys-CdTe QDs. Furthermore, serum stability tests were performed and the biological behavior of the nanocomposite was evaluated in rats bearing fibrosarcoma tumor.

Liver, blood and tumor were the most accumulated sites at 1 h after the injection, and the radiolabeled nanocomposite as a PET/MRI imaging agent showed fast depletion from body and acceptable tumor uptake.

Magnetic (Fe₃O₄) and fluorescent components (CdTe QDs) along with a positron-emitting radionuclide will help to design a multimodal imaging system (PET/MRI/OI) which will offer the advantages of combined imaging techniques and further possible used in localized radionuclide therapy. Overall, [⁶⁸Ga] Ga-GO@Fe₃O₄-cys-CdTe QDs nanocomposite shows great promise as a radiolabeled imaging agent owing to high accumulation in tumor region.