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AIM: In this study, we describe the biodistribution of CYT-6091, a colloidal gold (Au)-based nanomedicine that targets the delivery of TNF-alpha to solid tumors. MATERIALS & METHODS: A single intravenous injection of CYT-6091 coated with 5 microg TNF-alpha was given to human prostate tumor-bearing or naive (without tumor) nude mice. Tissues were harvested and analyzed at specific time points for Au nanoparticles by atomic emission spectroscopy and TNF-alpha by ELISA. RESULTS: The two constituents of CYT-6091, TNF-alpha and Au, exhibited different behavior in blood, with TNF-alpha showing a faster decay than the Au nanoparticles. Between 0 and 4 h after injection, TNF-alpha showed a preferential accumulation in the tumor. Au was observed to accumulate preferentially in the liver between 4 and 12 h, and showed some clearance over time (4 months). CONCLUSION: These data suggest that CYT-6091 delivers TNF-alpha preferentially to the tumor and that upon TNF-alpha degradation, the liver takes up Au, which is cleared slowly over time.
Goel et al. (2009) studied this question.