
Article Title
AS1411 aptamer-conjugated Gd2O3:Eu nanoparticles for target-specific computed tomography/magnetic resonance/fluorescence molecular imaging
Keywords
aptamer, contrast agent, Gd2O3 nanoparticles, molecular imaging, nanoparticles synthesis
Abstract
Europium-doped gadolinium oxide (Gd2O3:Eu) nanoparticles have been synthesized, and then their surfaces have been conjugated with nucleolintargeted AS1411 aptamer to form functionalized target-specific Gd2O3:Eu nanoparticles (A-GdO:Eu nanoparticles). The A-GdO:Eu nanoparticles present strong fluorescence in the visible range, high magnetic susceptibility, X-ray attenuation and good biocompatibility. The A-GdO:Eu nanoparticles have been applied to test molecular expression of nucleolin highly expressed CL1-5 lung cancer cells under a confocal microscope. Fluorescence imaging clearly reveals that the nanoparticles can be applied as fluorescent tags for cancer-targeting molecular imaging. Furthermore, taking together their excellent T1 contrast and strong computed tomography (CT) signal, the A-GdO:Eu nanoparticles demonstrate a great capability for use as a dual modality contrast agent for CT and magnetic resonance (MR) molecular imaging. Animal experiments also show that the A-GdO:Eu nanoparticles are able to contrast the tissues of BALB/c mice using CT modality. Moreover, the obvious red fluorescence of A-GdO:Eu nanoparticles can be visualized in a tumor by the naked eye. Overall, our results demonstrate that the A-GdO:Eu nanoparticles can not only serve as new medical contrast agents but also as intraoperative fluorescence imaging probes for guided surgery in the near future.
Graphical Abstract
Publisher
Tsinghua University Press
Recommended Citation
Tsungrong Kuo,Weiyun Lai,Chenghung Li,Yanjhan Wun,Huancheng Chang,Jinnshiun Chen,Panchyr Yang,Chiachun Chen, AS1411 aptamer-conjugated Gd2O3:Eu nanoparticles for target-specific computed tomography/magnetic resonance/fluorescence molecular imaging. NanoRes.2014, 7(5): 658–669