Synthesis and radiolabeling of (111)In-core-cross linked polymeric micelle-octreotide for near-infrared fluoroscopy and single photon emission computed tomography imaging.

The objective of this study was the development of a dual-modality imaging device, namely (111)In-core-cross-linked polymeric micelle (CCPM)-octreotide, for neuroendocrine tumor detection, using near-infrared fluoroscopy (NIRF) and single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT). The tumor targeting ability of the (111)In-labeled CCPM-octreotide was evaluated in a tumor mouse model. SPECT/CT, NIRF and gamma imaging results showed high tumor uptake of (111)In-labeled CCPM-octreotide. In contrast, there was a much lower signal in the same mouse model injected with (111)In-labeled CCPM. The high accumulation of (111)In-labeled CCPM-octreotide in U87 tumor was reduced after co-injection with an excess amount of CCPM-octreotide. These results suggested CCPM-octreotide's potential applications in tumor diagnosis, drug delivery and molecular imaging.