Designing a multicolor long range nanoscopic ruler for the imaging of heterogeneous tumor cells

Abstract

Tumor heterogeneity is one of the biggest challenges in cancer treatment and diagnosis. Multicolor optical ruler is essential to address heterogeneous tumor cells complexity. Driven by the need, current article reports the design of multicolor long range nanoscopic ruler for screening tumor heterogeneity by accurately identifying epithelial cells and cancer stem cells (CSCs) simultaneously. Nanoscopic surface energy transfer (NSET) ruler has been developed using blue fluorescence polymer dots (PDs) and red fluorescence gold cluster dots (GCDs) as multicolor fluorescence donor and plasmonic gold nanoparticle (GNP) acts as an excellent acceptor. Reported experimental results demonstrated that the multicolor nanoscopic ruler’s working window is above 35 nm distances, which is more than three times farther than that of Förster resonance energy transfer (FRET) distance limit. Theoretical modeling using Förster dipole–dipole coupling and dipole to nanoparticle surface energy transfer have been used to discuss the possible mechanism for multicolor nanoscopic ruler’s long-range capability. Using RNA aptamer that are specific for the target cancer cells, experimental data demonstrate that nanoscopic ruler can be used for screening epithelial and CSCs simultaneously from whole blood sample with 10 Cells/mL detection capability. Experimental data show that nanoscopic ruler can distinguish targeted cells from non-targeted cells.

Epigallocatechin Gallate-Gold Nanoparticles Exhibit Superior Antitumor Activity Compared to Conventional Gold Nanoparticles: Potential Synergistic Interactions

“…C-GNPs were synthesized by reducing HAuCl 4 ·3H 2 O with trisodium citrate (TSC) as reported earlier [21], with some modifications. On the other hand, E-GNPs were synthesized by reducing HAuCl 4 ·3H 2 O with EGCG, at room temperature.…”

“…Citrate-gold nanoparticle synthesis and characterization: Citrate-gold nanoparticles (C-GNPs) were synthesized by reducing HAuCl 4 ·3H 2 O with trisodium citrate (TSC) as reported earlier, with some modifications [21]. In brief, 10 mM solution of HAuCl 4 ·3H 2 O and 1.0 wt % of TSC were prepared using deionized (DI) water.…”

“…Specially, gold nanoparticles (GNPs) are considered a better option than other nanoparticle formulations because of their biocompatibility, ease of synthesis, chemical stability, unique optical properties, and ease of surface modification as they can bind to molecules containing –SH and –NH 2 [19]. Their biomedical applications in chemical sensing, biological imaging, and drug delivery have been demonstrated [20,21,22]. Importantly, GNPs are also shown to confer anticancer activity by directly acting on the tumor cells and/or by impacting the tumor microenvironment [23,24,25,26,27].…”

Fluorescence Resonance Energy Transfer Based Highly Efficient Theranostic Nanoplatform for Two-Photon Bioimaging and Two-Photon Excited Photodynamic Therapy of Multiple Drug Resistance Bacteria

“…In the past decade, we and other groups have shown that one can engineer the bandgap into graphene quantum dots (GQDs) and they are excellent candidates for optoelectronic applications due to quantum confinement and edge effect. ,,,,− Because of good solubility in water and buffer, excellent photostability, and biocompatibility, GQDs are demonstrated to be excellent bioimaging agents. − We and other groups have reported very strong two-photon absorption from graphene quantum dots with absorption cross-section of ∼10 5 GM, where 1 GM = 10 –50 cm 4 s/photon. ,,,, On the other hand, ultrasmall gold nanoclusters exhibit a range of unique quantum confinement and photophysical properties, as we and others reported before. − Several groups have demonstrated that photophysical proerties of gold nanoclusters are very different from that of their larger-sized nanoparticle counterparts or that of the bulk parent material. − ,,, Because of small size, near-IR emission, high photostability, and biocompatibility, gold nanoclusters have stimulated a lot of interest for biological applications. ,,, Several groups have reported that the two-photon absorption cross-section from gold cluster with absorption cross-section is ∼10 3 GM. − Recent reports indicate that gold nanoclusters have long-lived triplet excited states, which help to generate ROS. − , To improve ROS formation and increase two-photon excited PDT efficiency, we have designed gold nanoclusters attached graphene quantum dot based two-photon excited theranostic nanoplatform as shown in Scheme A. In our design, graphene quantum dots with very high two-photon absorption act as two-photon donors and gold nanoclusters act as acceptors.…”

Gold Suprashells: Enhanced Photothermal Nanoheaters with Multiple Localized Surface Plasmon Resonances for Broadband Surface-Enhanced Raman Scattering

“…For example, suprashells could become selective nanomedicines for cancer research when modified with FDA-approved anti-EpCAM antibodies, which recognize CTCs. 46,47…”