Two-Photon Intravital Microscopy of Glioblastoma in a Murine Model

Published: March 01, 2024

doi:

Kerem Nernekli*¹, Dilyana B. Mangarova*¹, Yifeng Shi, Zahra Shokri Varniab, Edwin Chang, Oguz Ziya Tikenogullari, Laura Pisani, Grigory Tikhomirov, Gordon Wang, Heike E. Daldrup-Link

¹Molecular Imaging Program at Stanford (MIPS), Department of Radiology,Stanford University School of Medicine, ²Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Sciences,University of California, Berkeley, ³Department of Mechanical Engineering,Stanford University, ⁴Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Stanford University, Wu Tsai Neuroscience Institute,Stanford University

Summary

We present a novel approach for two-photon microscopy of the tumor delivery of fluorescent-labeled iron oxide nanoparticles to glioblastoma in a mouse model.

Abstract

The delivery of intravenously administered cancer therapeutics to brain tumors is limited by the blood-brain barrier. A method to directly image the accumulation and distribution of macromolecules in brain tumors in vivo would greatly enhance our ability to understand and optimize drug delivery in preclinical models. This protocol describes a method for real-time in vivo tracking of intravenously administered fluorescent-labeled nanoparticles with two-photon intravital microscopy (2P-IVM) in a mouse model of glioblastoma (GBM).

The protocol contains a multi-step description of the procedure, including anesthesia and analgesia of experimental animals, creating a cranial window, GBM cell implantation, placing a head bar, conducting 2P-IVM studies, and post-surgical care for long-term follow-up studies. We show representative 2P-IVM imaging sessions and image analysis, examine the advantages and disadvantages of this technology, and discuss potential applications.

This method can be easily modified and adapted for different research questions in the field of in vivo preclinical brain imaging.

Introduction

Two-photon intravital microscopy (2P-IVM) is a fluorescence imaging technique that allows the visualization of living tissue¹.

First developed in the 1990s, 2P-IVM has been used for in vivo analysis of the retina², kidney³, small intestine⁴, cochlea⁵, heart⁶, trachea⁷^, and the brain in various preclinical models⁸^,⁹. In the field of neuroscience, 2P-IVM has gained importance as a technique for real-time imaging of the healthy brain in awake animals¹⁰, as well as studying diseases of the nervous system such as Alzheimer's¹¹, Parkinson's¹² and glioblastoma (GBM)¹³^,¹⁴^,¹⁵^,^16.

2P-IVM offers an elegant solution for studying the tumor microenvironment during the development of GBM. While some previous studies focused on in vitro¹⁷ and ex vivo models¹⁸, others implemented orthotopic¹⁹ and xenotropic²⁰ in vivo models for examining GBM. Madden et al. performed native imaging of CNS-1 rat glioma cell line in a mouse model¹³. Using an orthotopic GL261-DsRed murine model, Ricard et al. performed an intravenous administration of a fluorophore to enhance the blood vessels in the tumor region in 2P-IVM¹⁴.

Here, we apply 2P-IVM for tracking the tumor delivery of fluorescent-labeled iron oxide nanoparticles (NP) in an orthotopic mouse model of GBM. Using a cranial window, this method allows us to study the real-time spatiotemporal distribution of NPs in the brain in detail.

Protocol

The animal procedure described in this protocol is in accordance with the requirements of the Administrative Panel on Laboratory Animal Care (APLAC). 1. Cell culture Preparation of hood Wash hands, wear gloves and a lab coat. Turn on the biological safety cabinet and set the sash level to an appropriate opening height. Let the hood purge for 3-5 min. Spray the hood area with 70% ethanol and wipe it down with tissue paper. Spray all reagents w…

Representative Results

Here, we performed cranial window surgery and engrafted C6 cells in an NSG mouse model of GBM (n = 5). A proper seal between all components involved in the creation of the window (Figure 1A) will ensure the windows' durability for long-term imaging and, additionally, reduce morbidity. Using the stage adapted for in vivo 2P-IVM (Figure 2), we could image animals under anesthesia for up to 2 h without any major motion artifacts. Approximately 10 min a…

Discussion

We present a method for real-time in vivo NP tracking using 2P-IVM through a cranial window to evaluate the tumor delivery of fluorescent-labeled iron oxide NPs. The surgical technique for this procedure requires a steady hand and advanced experimental surgical skills. It is advisable to practice using carcasses or phantoms before moving forward to live animal experience. As an alternative, Hoeferlin et al. implemented a robotic drill to reduce thermal damage, minimize surgical technique variability, and standar…

Offenlegungen

The authors have nothing to disclose.

Acknowledgements

We would like to thank the Stanford Wu Tsai Neuroscience Microscopy Service, the Stanford Center for Innovations in In Vivo Imaging (SCi3) – small animal imaging center, NIH S10 Shared Instrumentation Grant (S10RR026917-01, PI Michael Moseley, Ph.D.), and Stanford Preclinical Imaging Facility at Porter Drive for providing the equipment and infrastructure for this project. This work was supported by a grant from the National Institute for Child Health and Human Development, grant number R01HD103638. We would like to thank the Schnitzer Group, Stanford University; the Zuo lab, University of Santa Cruz; and the Neurovascular Imaging Laboratory, Boston Photonic Center, University of Boston, for educational discussions on two-photon imaging and cranial window models.

Materials

0.9% sodium chloride infusion solution	Baxter Corp	533-JB1301P
Dulbecco's Modified Eagle Medium	Invitrogen	11965-092
1 mL syringes	BD	Luer-Lok syringe, REF309628
10% FBS	Thermo fisher	Cytiva SH30910.03HI
10% DMSO	Sigma-Aldrich	D8418-50ML
2-photon microscope	Prairie Technologies, Bruker	Prairie Ultima IV
Alcohol applicators, 70%	Medline Industries, LP	MDS093810
Alcohol, spray bottle	Decon Labs Inc	Decon SaniHol, 04-355-122
Aluminum foil	Reynold Brands	Reynold Wrap non-stick aluminum foil
Anesthesia machine	Patterson Scientific	SAS3
Anesthesia monitoring	Kent Scientific	MouseSTAT Jr. Rodent Pulsoxymeter
Antibiotic-Antimycotic (100x), liquid	Invitrogen	15240-096
Betadine applicators	Professional Disposables International, Inc	S41125
Biopsy punch, 5 mm	Miltex	Size 5
Buprenorphine sustained release	Zoo Pharm	Bup SR Lab, 1.0 mg/mL	A generic drug can be used instead.
C6 rat glioma cell line	ATCC (American Tissue Culture Collection)	CCL-107
Cannulas	BD	16 G, 1.1/2”, 30 G, 1”
Carprofen	Pfizer	Rimadyl, 50 mg/ml	A generic drug can be used instead.
Cefazoline	Sagent Pharmaceuticals	25021-101-10, 1 g/vial	A generic drug can be used instead.
Cell strainer, 40 µm	Fisher Scientific	87711
Cotton tip applicators, 6”	Dyad Medical Sourcing, LLC	HCS1005
Dental cement	Stoelting Co	51459	Dental cement kit, clear, 2 components
Dexamethasone	Bimeda	138RX, 2 mg/mL	A generic drug can be used instead.
DietGel	ClearH2O	Recovery, 72-06-502
Drape	Cardinal Health	Bio Shield Wrap
Drill	Saeyang Microtech	Escort Pro, B08350
Drill tips	Hager & Meissinger GmbH	REF310104001001005	Size 005, US 1/4
FIJI imaging analysis software	National Institute of Health	https://imagej.net/software/fiji/
Forceps	Fisher Scientific	13-812-41
Gauze	Fisher HealthCare	Sterile Cotton Gauze Pad, 4 x 4”, 22-415-469
Gelfoam	Ethicon Inc.	Surgifoam absorbable gelatin sponge, Ref. 1972
Germinator	Cellpoint Scientific	Germinator 500, No. 11688
Glass coverslips, 5 mm diameter	Fisher Scientific	Menzel Cover glass
Gloves, non-sterile	Fisher Scientific	Nitrile powder-free medical examination gloves
Gloves, sterile	Medline Industries, LP	MDS104070
Hair removal cream	Church & Dwight	Nair Hair remover lotion
Hamilton syringe	Hamilton Company Inc	Gastight #1701, 10 µL
HBSS without Ca, Mg	Fisher Scientific	PI88284
Head bar	Hongway	5 mm inner diameter O-rings
Heating pad	Stoelting Co.	Rodent warmer X2
Insulin syringes	Exel International Medical Products	29G x 1/2″
Iron oxide nanoparticles	Covis Pharma GmbH	Feraheme ferumoxytol injection, 510 mg/17 mL, 59338077501
Isoflurane	Dechra	26675-46-7
Mice	Jackson Laboratories	NSG, Strain 005557
Microscope (surgery)	Seiler Medical	Seiler IQ Q-100-220
Nanoparticles	Custom		Iron oxide nanoparticles (Ferumoxytol) labeled with fluorescein isothiocyanate
Ophtalmic ointment	Major pharmaceuticals	Lubrifresh P.M. nighttime ointment, 203964
Oxygen	Linde Gas & Equipment Inc.	High Pressure Steel K Style Cylinder, 249CF, 2000PSIG, CGA 540
Plastic cups	Georgia-Pacirif Consumer Products	Dixie Portion Cup, 2 oz., Plastic, Clear, PK2400
Polyethylene tubing	Braintree Scientific	50-195-5494
Scale	Ohaus Corp	CR2200
Scalpel	Integra Life Sciences Production Corp	Integra Miltex Stainless steel disposable scalpel
Scissors	Fisher Scientific	13-804-18
Sealant	Henkel Corp	Loctite 4014
Single use lab gown	High Tech Conversions	17-444-081
Stereotactic frame	Stoelting Co.	Stoelting New Standard TM
Sterile Vacuum Bottle Top Filtration Systems	Fisher Scientific	S2GPU05RE, MilliporeSigma NO.:S2GPU05RE
Styrofoam box	N/A	N/A
Surgical gloves	Cardinal Health	19-163-108
Surgical glue, 3M Vetbond tissues adhesive	3M Animal Care Prodcuts	1469SB
Tail vein cathether	Custom		Consists of two 30 G cannulas connected with sillicone tubing
TrypLE Express (1x), no phenol red	Invitrogen	12604-039
Ultraviolett torch	Spring sunshine technology	Consciot

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Nernekli, K., Mangarova, D. B., Shi, Y., Varniab, Z. S., Chang, E., Tikenogullari, O. Z., Pisani, L., Tikhomirov, G., Wang, G., Daldrup-Link, H. E. Two-Photon Intravital Microscopy of Glioblastoma in a Murine Model. J. Vis. Exp. (205), e66304, doi:10.3791/66304 (2024).