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Volume 18
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10.3390/pharmaceutics18010024
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This is an early access version, the complete PDF, HTML, and XML versions will be available soon.
Article

L19-Conjugated Gold Nanoparticles for the Specific Targeting of EDB-Containing Fibronectin in Neuroblastoma

by
Chiara Barisione
1,2,
Silvia Ortona
3,
Veronica Bensa
4,
Caterina Ivaldo
1,2,
Eleonora Ciampi
4,
Simonetta Astigiano
5,
Michele Cilli
5,
Luciano Zardi
1,
Mirco Ponzoni
4,
Domenico Palombo
1,6,
Giovanni Pratesi
1,6,7,
Pier Francesco Ferrari
2,6,8,* and
Fabio Pastorino
4
1
Department of Surgical and Integrated Diagnostic Sciences, University of Genoa, 16132 Genoa, Italy
2
IRCCS Ospedale Policlinico San Martino, 16132 Genoa, Italy
3
Department of Experimental Medicine, University of Genoa, 16132 Genoa, Italy
4
Laboratory of Experimental Therapies in Oncology, IRCCS Istituto Giannina Gaslini, 16147 Genoa, Italy
5
Animal Facility, IRCCS Ospedale Policlinico San Martino, 16132 Genova, Italy
6
Research Center for Biologically Inspired Engineering in Vascular Medicine and Longevity, University of Genoa, 16145 Genoa, Italy
7
Clinic of Vascular and Endovascular Surgery, IRCCS Ospedale Policlinico San Martino, 16132 Genoa, Italy
8
Department of Civil, Chemical and Environmental Engineering, University of Genoa, 16145 Genoa, Italy
*
Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Pharmaceutics 2026, 18(1), 24; https://doi.org/10.3390/pharmaceutics18010024
Submission received: 26 November 2025 / Revised: 19 December 2025 / Accepted: 22 December 2025 / Published: 24 December 2025
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Nanomedicine and Nanotechnology: Recent Advances and Applications)
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Abstract

Background/Objectives: Neuroblastoma (NB) is the most common extracranial solid tumor in children and accounts for 12–15% of pediatric cancer-related deaths. Current multimodal therapies lack specific cellular targets, causing systemic toxicity and drug resistance. The development of innovative tumor-targeted nanoformulations might represent a promising approach to enhance NB diagnosis and antitumor efficacy, while decreasing off targets side effects. Fibronectin extra-domain B (FN-EDB) is upregulated in the tumor microenvironment. Methods: FN-EDB expression was evaluated by immunohistochemical staining in cell line-derived and tumor patient-derived animal models of NB. A gold nanoparticle, decorated with an antibody (Ab) recognizing FN-EDB (L19-AuNP) was developed by the company Nano Flow and its tumor binding was tested by ELISA in vitro and in patient-derived xenograft (PDX) models of NB by photoacoustic imaging in vivo. Results: All animal models of NB used have been shown to express FN-EDB. L19 Ab demonstrated excellent binding specificity to FN-EDB both when used in free form and after conjugation to AuNP. Compared to the non-functionalized (no Ab L19-coupled) AuNP, which showed an increase in PDI and zeta potential over time, making them unsuitable for use in in vivo studies, L19-AuNP demonstrated good stability. In vivo, L19-AuNP specifically homed into PDX models of NB, accumulating better in tumors expressing higher levels of FN-EDB. Negligible distribution to healthy organs occurred. Conclusions: In this preliminary study, L19-AuNP was shown to be a novel diagnostic tool specifically for binding NB expressing FN-EDB, paving the way for the development of theranostic nanoformulations co-encapsulating gold moiety and standard-of-care therapy for NB.
Keywords: neuroblastoma; fibronectin extra-domain B; L19 gold nanoparticles; photoacoustic imaging neuroblastoma; fibronectin extra-domain B; L19 gold nanoparticles; photoacoustic imaging
Graphical Abstract

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MDPI and ACS Style

Barisione, C.; Ortona, S.; Bensa, V.; Ivaldo, C.; Ciampi, E.; Astigiano, S.; Cilli, M.; Zardi, L.; Ponzoni, M.; Palombo, D.; et al. L19-Conjugated Gold Nanoparticles for the Specific Targeting of EDB-Containing Fibronectin in Neuroblastoma. Pharmaceutics 2026, 18, 24. https://doi.org/10.3390/pharmaceutics18010024

AMA Style

Barisione C, Ortona S, Bensa V, Ivaldo C, Ciampi E, Astigiano S, Cilli M, Zardi L, Ponzoni M, Palombo D, et al. L19-Conjugated Gold Nanoparticles for the Specific Targeting of EDB-Containing Fibronectin in Neuroblastoma. Pharmaceutics. 2026; 18(1):24. https://doi.org/10.3390/pharmaceutics18010024

Chicago/Turabian Style

Barisione, Chiara, Silvia Ortona, Veronica Bensa, Caterina Ivaldo, Eleonora Ciampi, Simonetta Astigiano, Michele Cilli, Luciano Zardi, Mirco Ponzoni, Domenico Palombo, and et al. 2026. "L19-Conjugated Gold Nanoparticles for the Specific Targeting of EDB-Containing Fibronectin in Neuroblastoma" Pharmaceutics 18, no. 1: 24. https://doi.org/10.3390/pharmaceutics18010024

APA Style

Barisione, C., Ortona, S., Bensa, V., Ivaldo, C., Ciampi, E., Astigiano, S., Cilli, M., Zardi, L., Ponzoni, M., Palombo, D., Pratesi, G., Ferrari, P. F., & Pastorino, F. (2026). L19-Conjugated Gold Nanoparticles for the Specific Targeting of EDB-Containing Fibronectin in Neuroblastoma. Pharmaceutics, 18(1), 24. https://doi.org/10.3390/pharmaceutics18010024

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