Protein-Stabilized Gadolinium Oxide-Gold Nanoclusters Hybrid for Multimodal Imaging and Drug Delivery

Abstract

A protein-stabilized multifunctional theranostic nanoplatform, gadolinium oxide-gold nanoclusters hybrid (GdO-AuNCs), is constructed for multimodal imaging and drug delivery. The GdO-AuNCs nanohybrid is developed by integrating GdO nanocrystals and gold nanoclusters into bovine serum albumin scaffold as a stabilizer. The nanohybrid exhibits favorable biocompatibility and is capable of enhancing the contrast in magnetic resonance and X-ray computed tomography imaging. Meanwhile, the integrated AuNCs component not only endows the nanohybrid to produce red fluorescence, but also sensitizes the generation of singlet oxygen (O) upon near-infrared laser stimulation at 808 nm. Bovine serum albumin surrounding the nanoparticles makes GdO-AuNCs a brilliant carrier for the delivery of indocyanine green (ICG). ICG loading endows the GdO-AuNCs-ICG nanocomposite with a near-infrared fluorescence imaging capability, and improves its photodynamic property and photothermal capability. Ultimately, further experiments have demonstrated that GdO-AuNCs-ICG nanocomposite is a promising theranostic agent for image guided cancer therapy.

Photo/electrocatalysis and photosensitization using metal nanoclusters for green energy and medical applications

“…22B). 134 18 NC (a PDT/PTT agent), the pH/ temperature-responsive polymer P(NIPAm-MAA), and the anticancer drug doxorubicin (DOX) onto the surface of mesoporous silica-coated core-shell up-conversion NPs (UCNPs) (Fig. 22C).…”

Gastrin-releasing peptide receptor-targeted gadolinium oxide-based multifunctional nanoparticles for dual magnetic resonance/fluorescent molecular imaging of prostate cancer

“…BBN, CGGG-QWAVGHLM-NH2 (7)(8)(9)(10)(11)(12)(13)(14), was synthesized using standard fluorenylmethoxycarbonyl (fmoc) chemistry solid phase peptide synthesis method by Boxin Biotechnology (Xiamen, People's Republic of China). All other chemicals were used without further purification.…”

“…11 Moreover, Gd 2 O 3 NPs offer a versatile platform for further multifunctionalization through modifications, which makes them good candidates for active tumor targeting and multimodal imaging. 12 In this study, we report the development of a 5(6)-carboxyfluorescein (FI)-conjugated Gd 2 O 3 nanoprobe for PC cell-specific targeted molecular imaging. Gd 2 O 3 NPs were synthesized via a simple polyol-free synthesis at room temperature.…”

Development of Copper Nanoclusters for In Vitro and In Vivo Theranostic Applications

“…Quantum dots coated with mesoporous silica followed by diverse surface modifications (including amine functionalization of the silica surface, PEGylation, and ligand conjugation) display dual emissive properties and enhance magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) contrast, with the silica pores enabling the loading of doxorubicin for chemotherapy . More recently, by incorporating Gd 2 O 3 nanocrystals and gold nanoclusters (NCs) together into a protein‐stabilized hybrid system, drug delivery and imaging‐guided cancer therapy are made possible . These selected examples demonstrate the use of nanomaterials in theranostics.…”

“…[4] More recently, by incorporating Gd 2 O 3 nanocrystals and gold nanoclusters (NCs) together into a proteinstabilized hybrid system, drug delivery and imaging-guided cancer therapy are made possible. [5] These selected examples demonstrate the use of nanomaterials in theranostics. Among different classes of nanomaterials, lightemitting metal NCs show favorable properties partly because of their lack of heavy metals (and hence lower toxicity) as compared to semiconductor quantum dots in many of which heavy metals are used, and of their excellent photostability and low toxicity as compared to organic dyes.…”