Sensitive and quantitative in vivo analysis of PD-L1 using magnetic particle imaging and imaging-guided immunotherapy

Purpose The programmed cell death protein-1 (PD-1) and programmed cell death ligand-1 (PD-L1) expression correlate with the immunotherapeutic response rate. The sensitive and non-invasive imaging of immune checkpoint biomarkers is favorable for the accurate detection and characterization, image-guided immunotherapy in cancer precision medicine. Magnetic particle imaging (MPI), as a novel and emerging imaging modality, possesses the advantages of high sensitivity, no image depth limitation, positive contrast, and absence of radiation. Hence, in this study, we performed the pioneer investigation of monitoring PD-L1 expression using MPI and the MPI-guided immunotherapy. Methods We developed anti-PD-L1 antibody (aPDL1)-conjugated magnetic fluorescent hybrid nanoparticles (MFNPs-aPDL1) and utilized MPI in combination with fluorescence imaging (FMI) to dynamically monitor and quantify PD-L1 expression in various tumors with different PD-L1 expression levels. The ex vivo real-time polymerase chain reaction (qPCR), western blotting, and immunofluorescence staining analysis were further performed to validate the in vivo imaging observation. Moreover, the MPI was further performed for the guidance of immunotherapy. Results Our data showed that PD-L1 expression can be specifically and sensitively monitored and quantified using MPI and FMI imaging methods, which were validated by ex vivo qPCR and western blotting analysis. In addition, MPI-guided PD-L1 immunotherapy can enhance the effectiveness of cancer immunotherapy. Conclusion To our best knowledge, this is the pioneer study to utilize MPI in combination with a newly developed MFNPs-aPDL1 imaging probe to dynamically visualize and quantify PD-L1 expression in tumor microenvironment. This imaging strategy may facilitate the clinical optimization of immunotherapy management.