CdTe quantum dots as fluorescent probes to study transferrin receptors in glioblastoma cells

Filho, Paulo E. Cabral; Cardoso, Ana L.; Pereira, Maria I.A.; Ramos, Ana P.M.; Hallwass, Fernando; Castro, M. Margarida C. A.; Geraldes, Carlos F. G. C.; Santos, Beate S.; Lima, Maria C. Pedroso de; Pereira, Giovannia A. L.; Fontes, Adriana

doi:10.1016/j.bbagen.2015.09.021

Cited by 50 publications

(28 citation statements)

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“…However, the safety of quantum dots is significant because larger quantum dots may not be well cleared, and the long-term effects of accumulation are unknown ( 218 , 219 ). Quantum dots conjugated with transferrin have been used as a fluorescent probe to target transferrin receptors in glioblastoma cells ( 220 ).…”

Section: Future Directionsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Intraoperative Fluorescence Imaging for Personalized Brain Tumor Resection: Current State and Future Directions

et al. 2016

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IntroductionFluorescence-guided surgery is one of the rapidly emerging methods of surgical “theranostics.” In this review, we summarize current fluorescence techniques used in neurosurgical practice for brain tumor patients as well as future applications of recent laboratory and translational studies.MethodsReview of the literature.ResultsA wide spectrum of fluorophores that have been tested for brain surgery is reviewed. Beginning with a fluorescein sodium application in 1948 by Moore, fluorescence-guided brain tumor surgery is either routinely applied in some centers or is under active study in clinical trials. Besides the trinity of commonly used drugs (fluorescein sodium, 5-aminolevulinic acid, and indocyanine green), less studied fluorescent stains, such as tetracyclines, cancer-selective alkylphosphocholine analogs, cresyl violet, acridine orange, and acriflavine, can be used for rapid tumor detection and pathological tissue examination. Other emerging agents, such as activity-based probes and targeted molecular probes that can provide biomolecular specificity for surgical visualization and treatment, are reviewed. Furthermore, we review available engineering and optical solutions for fluorescent surgical visualization. Instruments for fluorescent-guided surgery are divided into wide-field imaging systems and hand-held probes. Recent advancements in quantitative fluorescence-guided surgery are discussed.ConclusionWe are standing on the threshold of the era of marker-assisted tumor management. Innovations in the fields of surgical optics, computer image analysis, and molecular bioengineering are advancing fluorescence-guided tumor resection paradigms, leading to cell-level approaches to visualization and resection of brain tumors.

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Section: Future Directionsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Intraoperative Fluorescence Imaging for Personalized Brain Tumor Resection: Current State and Future Directions

et al. 2016

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“…6). This spectral behaviour is related to the QDs surface alteration during the conjugation process 33 ; nevertheless, the bimodal nanoparticles retained a bright fluorescence, as can be observed in Fig. 2B inset.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 63%

Hydrophilic Quantum Dots Functionalized with Gd(III)-DO3A Monoamide Chelates as Bright and Effective T1-weighted Bimodal Nanoprobes

Pereira

Monteiro

et al. 2019

Sci Rep

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Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is a powerful non-invasive diagnostic tool that enables distinguishing healthy from pathological tissues, with high anatomical detail. Nevertheless, MRI is quite limited in the investigation of molecular/cellular biochemical events, which can be reached by fluorescence-based techniques. Thus, we developed bimodal nanosystems consisting in hydrophilic quantum dots (QDs) directly conjugated to Gd(III)-DO3A monoamide chelates, a Gd(III)-DOTA derivative, allowing for the combination of the advantages of both MRI and fluorescence-based tools. These nanoparticulate systems can also improve MRI contrast, by increasing the local concentration of paramagnetic chelates. Transmetallation assays, optical characterization, and relaxometric analyses, showed that the developed bimodal nanoprobes have great chemical stability, bright fluorescence, and high relaxivities. Moreover, fluorescence correlation spectroscopy (FCS) analysis allowed us to distinguish nanosystems containing different amounts of chelates/QD. Also, inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry (ICP – OES) indicated a conjugation yield higher than 75%. Our nanosystems showed effective longitudinal relaxivities per QD and per paramagnetic ion, at least 5 times [per Gd(III)] and 100 times (per QD) higher than the r1 for Gd(III)-DOTA chelates, suitable for T1-weighted imaging. Additionally, the bimodal nanoparticles presented negligible cytotoxicity, and efficiently labeled HeLa cells as shown by fluorescence. Thus, the developed nanosystems show potential as strategic probes for fluorescence analyses and MRI, being useful for investigating a variety of biological processes.

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“…QDs usually contain elements from metal groups II, III, and V of the periodic table, as their electrons are loosely bound to the atom, allowing for their excitation and subsequent photon emission [168]. QDs are ideal agents for crossing the BBB, as they are small (<10 nm in diameter) and modifiable with homing moieties [166, 169]. Currently, QDs are still under investigation for their potential cytotoxic profiles.…”

Section: Application Of Nanotechnology For Brain Cancer Imagingmentioning

confidence: 99%

Covalent nano delivery systems for selective imaging and treatment of brain tumors

Ljubimova

Sun

Mashouf

et al. 2017

Advanced Drug Delivery Reviews

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Nanomedicine is a rapidly evolving form of therapy that holds a great promise in superior drug delivery efficiency and therapeutic efficacy than conventional cancer treatment. In this review, we attempt to cover the benefits and the limitations of current nanomedicines with special attention to covalent nanoconjugates for imaging and drug delivery in brain. The improvement in brain tumor treatment remains dismal despite decades of efforts in drug development and patient care. One of the major obstacles in brain cancer treatment is the poor drug delivery efficiency owing to the unique blood-brain-barrier (BBB) in the CNS. Although various anti-cancer agents are available to treat tumors outside of the CNS, the majority fails to cross the BBB. In this regard, nanomedicines have increasingly drawn attention due to their multi-functionality and versatility. Nano-drugs can penetrate BBB and other biological barriers, and selectively accumulate in tumor cells, while concurrently decreasing systemic toxicity.

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CdTe quantum dots as fluorescent probes to study transferrin receptors in glioblastoma cells

Abstract: This is the first study about TfRs in human glioblastoma cells using QDs. This new fluorescent tool can contribute to our understanding of the cancer cell biology and can help in the development of new therapies targeting these receptors.

Cited by 50 publications

References 38 publications

Intraoperative Fluorescence Imaging for Personalized Brain Tumor Resection: Current State and Future Directions

Intraoperative Fluorescence Imaging for Personalized Brain Tumor Resection: Current State and Future Directions

Hydrophilic Quantum Dots Functionalized with Gd(III)-DO3A Monoamide Chelates as Bright and Effective T1-weighted Bimodal Nanoprobes

Covalent nano delivery systems for selective imaging and treatment of brain tumors

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