NIR Emissive Biomimetic Ghost Nanovesicles for Site-Selective Solid Tumor Imaging

Optically active biomimetic ghosts nanovesicles are highly potent as imaging agents for site-selective solid tumor imaging with deep tissue visualization. However, reported systems are limited with poor brightness and photostability with NIR absorption and emission. Herein, cancer cell membrane derived biomimetic ghost nanovesicles (~60 nm) have been engineered with amphiphilic dyes aggregates for site-selective solid tumor imaging in pre-clinical models. Entrapped dye aggregates within biomimetic ghost nanovesicles (BNVs, 505 to 828 dye molecules/vesicle) exhibit promising fluorescence and photostability (up to 30 days) showing ultra-brightness (778 MESF) with promising tumor fluorescence signals (760 nm excitation) compared to free dye molecules and dye aggregates. Dye aggregates-BNVs exhibit significantly different imaging response than amphiphilic monomers-BNVs. Lipophilic and amphiphilic structural layers and surface biomarkers of ghost nanovesicles are examined through physicochemical measurements, corroborated with cargo release kinetics. Controlled body weight, long time survival and histopathology examinations ensure the in vivo biocompatibility of these intravenously administrated biomimetic imaging agents. Our findings suggest that these ghosts nanovesicles mimic the biological characteristics of native cells, enabling them to evade immune clearance.