Theranostics is connecting two medical branches, diagnostic and therapy. It enables transport of drugs and diagnostic imaging in one step. Nanoparticles, nanotubes, lipozomes or apoferritin can be used as platform for targeted transport. Apoferritin (APO) is a protein from ferritin family, which is characterized by an empty cavity. Is possible encapsulate some cargo (e.g., drug) into this cavity. Encapsulation is done by pH change. There is a possibility to modify APO surface. It causes targeted transport to for example cancer cells. In this study, process of preparation of targeted nanotransporter based on APO is described; next, its characterization by in vitro experiments is shown. The prepared targeted nanotransporter delivered drug to cancer cells and in the same time was decreased toxicity on surrounding tissue and organs.

Master thesis deals with the use of bacteriophage as a theranostic drug nanocarrier. The term theranostics is used in recent years for systems that allow connecting of diagnostics, targeted drug delivery and monitoring of patient’s response to administered treatment in a single modality. These systems are very suitable especially with heterogeneous diseases, such as cancer. Nowadays, the treatment of cancer has often severe side effects to the patient’s body, which lowers his capability to fight the disease. Theoretical part of this work is focused on the properties of viral capsids, proteins and inorganic materials as drug nanocarriers. In practical part of this work, different methods for cultivation of bacteriophage are compared, both in liquid and solid medium and with different concentrations of the maltose, trough whose receptors bacteriophage is able to enter the host cell. Optimal was cultivation with 0.2% maltose in solid medium. Practical part is focused mainly on the use of bacteriophage as a nanocarrier for cytotoxic drug doxorubicin. Bacteriophage was able to encapsulate all applied concentrations of doxorubicin (0; 12.5; 25; 50; 100 and 200 g/ml), which was proved using fluorescent detection. Different times of encapsulation (2; 4; 8 and 12 hours) were studied. Optimal time was 2 hours. Encapsulation properties of bacteriophage were compared to apoferritin. Bacteriophage was able to encapsulate 4× higher concentrations of doxorubicin and its release during rinsing with water was 10× lower compared to apoferritin. This work concludes that bacteriophage is a very suitable platform for targeted drug delivery in theranostics.

This diploma thesis focuses on the preparation of the liposomes, containing lipids with gadolinium, which are used for a contrast magnetic resonance imaging. The liposomes were prepared by the lipid film hydration followed by an extrusion and also by a new nanofluid mixing method on the NanoAssemblr Benchtop. The preparation technology has been optimized for parameters such as the composition of lipids, the flow rate ratio and total flow rate. The method of modification of the liposomes surface by gadolinium complexes has been developed. This method is using a conjugation reaction between the lipids containing cyanuric acid and Gd-DOTA. Prepared Gd-liposomes, which contain gadolinium, were complexly defined by the characterization techniques of DLS and NTA. The morphology of liposomes was observed by TEM and cryo-TEM. Methods for the determination of phospholipid content (Stewart test) and residual water in the lyophylisates of liposomes (Karl-Fischer titration) were used. Gadolinium in liposomal preparations was determined by ICP-OES. Using MR, the concept of gadolinium liposomes was verified and designed for MRI imaging of thrombi. The concept describing the mechanism of liposomes formation based on the experimentally proven existence of a phospholipid bilayer fragment has been developed. This concept is based on the experimentally proven existence of a phospholipid bilayer fragment.