Transferrin-Conjugated Manganese Dioxide/Semiconducting Polymer Hybrid Nanoparticles for Targeted Dual-Model Imaging of Orthotopic Glioblastoma

Glioblastoma is one of the important diseases that threaten human health, while the early diagnosis of glioblastoma remains a great challenge. We herein report the development of transferrin (Tf)-conjugated hybrid nanoparticles for targeted magnetic resonance (MR) and near-infrared (NIR) fluorescence dual-model imaging of orthotopic glioblastoma in living mouse models. Tf-stabilized manganese dioxide (MnO2) nanoparticles were conjugated onto the surface of semiconducting polymer nanoparticles (SPNs) to allow the formation of hybrid nanoparticles (Tf@SPNM). Due to the surface modification of Tf that could bind to the Tf receptor, Tf@SPNM would overcome the blood–brain barrier (BBB) and target the glioblastoma cells, which resulted in a more effective delivery of Tf@SPNM into orthotopic glioblastoma sites compared to that of their control nanoparticles. In view of the high r1 relaxation (9.8 mM–1 s–1) and bright NIR fluorescence emission, Tf@SPNM could achieve MR and NIR fluorescence dual-model imaging of orthotopic glioblastoma with obviously improved imaging contrast. Thus, this study provides a multifunctional hybrid nanoplatform for effective diagnosis of orthotopic glioblastoma.