One-pot synthesis of Gd3+-functionalized gold nanoclusters for dual model (fluorescence/magnetic resonance) imaging

Abstract

Multimodal imaging that aims to advance imaging by strategically combining existing technologies with uniquely designed probes has attracted great interest in recent years. Here, Gd 3+ -functionalized gold nanoclusters (Gd-AuNCs) were synthesized for dual model (fluorescence/magnetic resonance) imaging. We designed a cyclodecapeptide that contained one tyrosine and two cysteines for the synthesis, and it biomineralized gold nanoclusters and chelated Gd 3+ ions at the same time. The Gd-AuNC probes emit an intense red fluorescence under UV light, while exhibiting a high longitudinal relaxivity of 41.5 AE 2.5 mM À1 s À1 and a low r 2 /r 1 ratio of 1.2 at 0.55 T. The versatility of the probes for dual model imaging has been demonstrated by means of cellular imaging and in vivo T 1 -weighted MRI. Thanks to the optimal size of the nanocluster, it can freely circulate in the blood pool without significant accumulation in the liver and spleen, but with a long circulation half-life (t 1/2 ) of $128 min. Moreover, the nanoclusters can be noticeably excreted from the body within a period of 24 h through renal clearance, making it attractive for in vivo multimodal imaging.

Noble Metal Clusters: Applications in Energy, Environment, and Biology

“…D) Photographs of the AuQCs under visible (left panel), UV light (middle panel), and their T1‐weighted MR images (right panel) of the 1) Gd‐CP, 2) AuQCs, 3) Gd‐AuQCs, and Gd‐AuNP samples. E) Comparison of the T1‐weighted MRI of Gd‐AuQCs (top) and Gd‐DTPA for various Gd concentrations and r1 F) their relaxivity curves at 0.55 T. Panels D‐F reproduced with permission . Copyright 2013, Royal Society of Chemistry.…”

“…In another report, a similar strategy was used by Kong and co‐workers . for multimodal imaging using Gd 3+ ‐functionalized gold clusters (Gd‐AuQCs) protected by cyclodecapeptide (CP) for dual model (fluorescence/magnetic resonance) imaging.…”

π‐Expanded α,β‐Unsaturated Ketones: Synthesis, Optical Properties, and Two‐Photon‐Induced Polymerization

“…For example, when three amino acids of the cyclodecapeptide for Gd 3+ binding were replaced by two C and one Y, the designed peptide was able to form dual functional Gd 3+ ‐AuNC (Example 3 in Figure 15b). 77 However, such incorporation may disturb functions of the recognition sequence. Thus, more careful design is needed.…”

Characterization of cerium (III) ion binding to surface‐immobilized EF‐hand loop I of calmodulin

“…While many studies have investigated EF‐hand peptides for binding lanthanide ions in solution, including cerium (IV) ions (Ce 4+ ), only a few have specifically investigated cerium (III) ions (Ce 3+ ) . Additionally, while some studies have immobilized peptides on gold surfaces for lanthanide binding, the effect of immobilizing the peptides to solid substrates on the binding affinity is often not quantified. This binding information is useful for material design.…”