Original Article
A method for optical imaging and monitoring of the excretion of fluorescent nanocomposites from the body using artificial neural networks

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nano.2018.03.009Get rights and content

Abstract

In this study, a new approach to the implementation of optical imaging of fluorescent nanoparticles in a biological medium using artificial neural networks is proposed. The studies were carried out using new synthesized nanocompositesnanometer graphene oxides, covered by the poly(ethylene imine)-poly(ethylene glycol) copolymer and by the folic acid. We present an example of a successful solution of the problem of monitoring the removal of nanocomposites based on nGO and their components with urine using fluorescent spectroscopy and artificial neural networks. However, the proposed method is applicable for optical imaging of any fluorescent nanoparticles used as theranostic agents in biological tissue.

Graphical Abstract

The new express method for solving the problem of optical visualization of nanocomposites in biological medium based on application of neural networks and fluorescence signal. Developed method provides information on the presence and quantity of nanocomposites and its components and is applicable for solution of such a problem with any fluorescent nanoparticles.

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Section snippets

Materials characterization

Graphene oxide nanoparticles (nGO) are products of the chemical reactions of intercalation, delamination and oxidation of 400 nm nanographite plates (Nanostructured&Amorphous Materials Inc., Houston, TX) in a 3:1 mixture of sulfuric and nitric acids.48 After evaporation of the acids from the supernatant (at 350°C), the nGO pellet was washed and dispersed in deionized water.

mPEG (molecular weight 5000), PEI (molecular weight 25000), hexamethylene diisocyanate (> 99%), folic acid ligands (FA,

Preparation and characterization of synthesized nanocomposites and their suspensions

Synthesized nGO was coated with PEG-PEI copolymers conjugated to FA by methods developed by the authors in Ref.14, 51 (Figure 2). As a result, nGO+Cop+FA nanocomposites were obtained. Owing to the copolymer, the resulting nanoparticles are highly dispersible, biocompatible and able to carry molecular agents (FA) on their surfaces.14

FA was chosen as ligand for the nanocomposites due to the following reason. FA is necessary for growth of new cells, including oncological ones.52 Therefore, tumors

Discussion

The obtained results of the ANN application to the problem of monitoring the excretion of nanocomposites and their components from the organism with urine showed the wide possibilities of ANN methods. Several approaches can be distinguished even to the specific problem stated in this study:

  • 1.

    If it is necessary to perform a quick estimation of the possibilities to determine the concentrations of all classes of nanoparticles in urine, it is advisable to use one ANN architecture that demonstrates

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    Support from: This study has been performed at the expense of the grant of Russian Science Foundation (project no. 17-12-01481): O.S., S.B., K.L., T.D.: measurement of sizes and fluorescence quantum yields of nanocomposites, conducting experiments, processing spectra; and at the expense of the grant of Russian Science Foundation (project no. 14-11-00579): I.I., S.D.: data pre-processing, design and methodology of application of ANN. Partial funding from the Academy of Finland (project# 284542, 309374) is also acknowledged (N.P., D.S.K., J.M.R.: synthesis and characterization of nanocomposites).

    The authors declare no conflicts of interests.

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