Cytidine Mediated AuAg Nanoclusters as Bright Fluorescent Probe for Tumor Imaging in vivo

Abstract

Noble metal clusters is an emerging class of fluorescent probes, avoiding most of the drawbacks of common fluorescent compounds, and they are simple to prepare and have good water solubility, good biocompatibility and excellent fluorescence properties. In this study, we have explored the synthesis of the cytidine mediated gold-silver nanoclusters (AuAg NCs) and applied it for both in vitro cellular imaging and tumor in vivo detection. Experimental results show that the as-prepared AuAg NCs can be used as a sensitive fluorescent probe for cancer cells/tissue detection. Especially, it is evident that under the relevant light irradiation with the wavelength of 488 nm, obviously bright fluorescence signal could be readily detected from focus location of inoculating tumor mouse, implying its possible application for the effective in vivo tumor bioimaging.

Two-Photon Imaging of 3D Organization of Bimetallic AuAg Nanoclusters in DNA Matrix

“…Although there are many interesting reports about the application of gold nanoclusters as fluorescent probes in vitro and in vivo , − most of them concern mainly one-photon excitation properties of nanoclusters. On the other hand, two-photon luminescence microscopy (2PLM) has many advantages over traditional one-photon optical microscopy techniques such as possibility of high-resolution deep imaging even in highly scattering environments like living tissues, localized red or infrared excitation in small focal volume, and reduced phototoxicity and photobleaching.…”

Tunable Nanomaterials of Intracellular Crystallization for In Situ Biolabeling and Biomedical Imaging

“…Interestingly, when the auranofin was used to treat arthritis, fluorescent nanoclusters were found in skin cells. − Our group began to study the generation of fluorescent nanoclusters in mammalian cells for pathological biomedical imaging in situ. , Gold nanoclusters are formed in the cytoplasm of tumor cells, which will not happen in noncancer cells . Subcutaneous injection of chloroauric acid solution into the vicinity of xenograft tumor in nude mice with hepatocellular carcinoma or chronic myeloid leukemia can effectively synthesize fluorescent gold nanoclusters without significantly diffusing to surrounding normal tissues, and then perform fluorescence imaging of tumor in situ . Alzheimer’s disease may be caused by the accumulation of amyloid protein, which may be the key protein for the synthesis of nanoclusters. , Taking pathological mice as the experimental model, it was found that zinc gluconate could pass through the blood–brain barrier and generate specific fluorescent zinc nanoclusters in the hippocampus .…”

Luminescent Metal Nanoclusters for Potential Chemosensor Applications

“…The above study described the mechanism of uptake and manner of cell death and revealed its future applicability. In this trend, bright fluorescent cytidine-mediated Au-Ag NCs were developed by Chen et al and utilized for both in vitro cellular imaging and tumor in vivo detection [193]. The synthesis and tumor detective application of the above-acknowledged probe is shown in Figure 18.…”

“…Figure 18. Scheme illustration of the process for cytidine mediated gold-silver nanoclusters (AuAg NCs) (Copyright Ref [193], WILEY publications).…”