Folic acid-conjugated silica capped gold nanoclusters for targeted fluorescence/X-ray computed tomography imaging.

Abstract

BACKGROUND:

Gastric cancer is 2th most common cancer in China, and is still the second most common cause of cancer-related death in the world. Successful development of safe and effective nanoprobes for in vivo gastric cancer targeting imaging is a big challenge. This study is aimed to develop folic acid (FA)-conjugated silica coated gold nanoclusters (AuNCs) for targeted dual-modal fluorescent and X-ray computed tomography imaging (CT) of in vivo gastric cancer cells.

METHOD:

AuNCs were prepared, silica was coated on the surface of AuNCs, then folic acid was covalently anchored on the surface of AuNCs, resultant FA-conjugated AuNCs@SiO2 nanoprobes were investigated their cytotoxicity by MTT method, and their targeted ability to FR(+) MGC803 cells and FR(-) GES-1 cells. Nude mice model loaded with MGC803 cells were prepared, prepared nanoprobes were injected into nude mice via tail vein, and then were imaged by fluorescent and X-ray computed tomography (CT) imaging.

RESULTS:

FA-conjugated AuNCs@SiO2 nanoprobes exhibited good biocompatibility, and could target actively the FR(+) MGC-803 cells and in vivo gastric cancer tissues with 5 mm in diameter in nude mice models, exhibited excellent red emitting fluorescence imaging and CT imaging.

CONCLUSION:

The high-performance FA-conjugated AuNCs@SiO2 nanoprobes can target in vivo gastric cancer cells, can be used for fluorescent and CT dual-mode imaging, and may own great potential in applications such as targeted dual-mode imaging of in vivo early gastric cancer and other tumors with FR positive expression in near future.

• Authors: Zhijun Zhou, Chunlei Zhang, Qirong Qian, Jiebing Ma, Peng Huang, Xi Zhang, Liyuan Pan, Guo Gao, Hualin Fu, Shen Fu, Hua Song, Xiao Zhi, Jian Ni, Daxiang Cui
• Journal: Journal of nanobiotechnology (J Nanobiotechnology) Vol. 11 Pg. 17 (May 29 2013) ISSN: 1477-3155 [Electronic] England
• PMID: 23718865 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)

Chemical References

• Gold
• Silicon Dioxide
• Folic Acid

Topics

• Animals
• Cell Line, Tumor
• Cell Survival (drug effects)
• Folic Acid (chemistry, pharmacokinetics, toxicity)
• Gold (chemistry, pharmacokinetics, toxicity)
• Humans
• Metal Nanoparticles (chemistry, toxicity)
• Mice
• Mice, SCID
• Molecular Probe Techniques
• Optical Imaging (methods)
• Silicon Dioxide (chemistry, pharmacokinetics, toxicity)
• Stomach Neoplasms (diagnostic imaging, pathology)
• Tomography, X-Ray Computed (methods)