Novel biomarkers and drug delivery systems for theranostics – extracellular vesicles and Positronium imaging with the J-PET tomograph

by Prof. Ewa Stępień (Jagiellonian University), Prof. Pawel Moskal (Jagiellonian University)

Tuesday 24 May 2022, 16:15 → 18:15 Europe/Zurich

CERN

Lecture 1. Extracellular vesicles (EVs) are nano- and micro-sized cell-derived entities, released from cells under physiological and pathological conditions [1]. EVs can be find in every biological fluid including blood, saliva, milk, or urine, serving as a liquid biopsy [2]. Their biological properties (cell-uptake, biocompatibility) [3], and chemical (composition, structure) or physical (size, density) [4] characteristics make EVs a good candidate for drug delivery systems (DDS). Recent advances in the field of EVs (e.g. scaling-up production, purification) and developments of new imaging methods (molecular imaging) revealed benefits of radiolabelled EVs in diagnostic and interventional medicine as a potential DDS in Theranostics [5].

 

Lecture 2. The Jagiellonian Positron Emission Tomograph (J-PET) is the first PET scanner based on plastic scintillators. In combination with the newly invented positronium imaging method, it enables the study of discrete symmetries in positronium decays and the study and imaging of positronium properties inside living organisms. In the seminar talk, we will present the latest results of P, T, CP, and CPT symmetry studies (Nature Communication 12, 5658 (2021)), as well as in vitro positronium images of healthy and cancer tissues (Science Advances 7, eabh4394 (2021)). We will also present preliminary results from the first-ever in vivo positronium imaging of the human brain using a portable and modular J-PET prototype at the Medical University of Warsaw in March 2022.

 

[1] Stępień E et al. Number of microparticles generated during acute myocardial infarction and stable angina correlates with platelet activation. Arch Med Res. 2012;43:31-5.

[2] Stępień EŁ et al. Circulating ectosomes: Determination of angiogenic microRNAs in type 2 diabetes. Theranostics. 2018;8:3874-3890.

[3] Stępień E et al. Microparticles, not only markers but also a therapeutic target in the early stage of diabetic retinopathy and vascular aging. Expert Opin Ther Targets. 2012;16:677-88.

[4] Stępień EŁ et al. Fourier-Transform InfraRed (FT-IR) spectroscopy to show alterations in molecular composition of EV subpopulations from melanoma cell lines in different malignancy. Biochem Biophys Rep. 2021;25:100888.

[5] Stępień EŁ, Rząca C, Moskal P. Novel biomarker and drug delivery systems for theranostics—Extracellular vesicles. Bio-Algorithms Med-Systems 2022:17:301–309