Ultrasmall near-infrared gold nanoclusters for tumor fluorescence imaging in vivo

Wu, Xu; He, Xiaoxiao; Wang, Kemin; Xie, Can; Zhou, Bing; Qing, Zhihe

doi:10.1039/c0nr00359j

Cited by 344 publications

(272 citation statements)

References 30 publications

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“…The QRs' quantum yield (2 × 10 −4 ) was comparable to the yields of other AuQDs reported in the literature (16). In addition to the high photostability granted by the AuQDs to the QRs (19), their large Stokes shift also provided a lower background signal and more flexible excitation options, which all contribute to improving the signal-to-noise ratio (20). Finally, the QRs' molar extinction coefficient at 672 nm (5.9 × 10 8 M −1 ·cm −1 , Fig.…”

Section: Resultssupporting

confidence: 63%

Gold–silica quantum rattles for multimodal imaging and therapy

Hembury

Chiappini

Bertazzo

et al. 2015

Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A.

111

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Gold quantum dots exhibit distinctive optical and magnetic behaviors compared with larger gold nanoparticles. However, their unfavorable interaction with living systems and lack of stability in aqueous solvents has so far prevented their adoption in biology and medicine. Here, a simple synthetic pathway integrates gold quantum dots within a mesoporous silica shell, alongside larger gold nanoparticles within the shell's central cavity. This "quantum rattle" structure is stable in aqueous solutions, does not elicit cell toxicity, preserves the attractive near-infrared photonics and paramagnetism of gold quantum dots, and enhances the drug-carrier performance of the silica shell. In vivo, the quantum rattles reduced tumor burden in a single course of photothermal therapy while coupling three complementary imaging modalities: near-infrared fluorescence, photoacoustic, and magnetic resonance imaging. The incorporation of gold within the quantum rattles significantly enhanced the drug-carrier performance of the silica shell. This innovative material design based on the mutually beneficial interaction of gold and silica introduces the use of gold quantum dots for imaging and therapeutic applications.nanomedicine | hybrid nanoparticle | cancer nanotechnology | gold quantum dots | mesoporous silica A lthough gold's potential in nanotechnology has been recognized for many decades (1, 2), new insights into the unique properties of gold nanoparticles (NPs) of less than 2 nm have just recently started to emerge (3, 4). Such extremely small gold NPs could be transformative for a broad set of applications ranging from energy production and storage to catalysis and health care (3). As the size of gold NPs decreases below 2 nm, the quantization of their conduction band leads to molecule-like properties (3). These quantum-sized gold NPs (or gold quantum dots, AuQDs) absorb light in the near-infrared (NIR) biological window (650-900 nm) (2) and convert it into photons and heat (5). Furthermore, whereas bulk gold is diamagnetic, some AuQDs exhibit magnetic properties (4, 6). However, the clear therapeutic and imaging potential of AuQDs in vivo has been undermined by their unfavorable biointeractions and lack of stability in aqueous solvents (5, 7). In biological environments AuQDs tend to aggregate rapidly, reverting to larger gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) (8) and/or bind to protein, which negatively affects their cytotoxicity (7). To retain their advantages, AuQDs require a protective, stabilizing framework that allows proficient biological interactions.Recently, new emphasis has been placed on hybrid NP systems, where multiple nanomaterials are assembled to create multimodal systems that exhibit the combined qualities of the component modules (9-11). These constructs promise to integrate various functionalities by incorporating different nanomaterials into a single, efficient, multimodal system (12, 13). However, these systems usually accumulate the specific functionalities of their component modules through multiple steps in their ...

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Section: Resultssupporting

confidence: 63%

Gold–silica quantum rattles for multimodal imaging and therapy

Hembury

Chiappini

Bertazzo

et al. 2015

Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A.

111

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“…Currently, considerable research efforts are directed towards investigation of Au NCs synthesis [4][5][6][7][8][9][10], structure [7,11,12], optical properties [4,[13][14][15][16], photostability [17][18][19][20][21] and possible applications for material sensing [5,[22][23][24] as fluorescence [25,26] and dual-modality imaging contrast agents [27,28]. However, colloidal stability, photostability, dependence of optical properties on temperature, interaction of BSA-Au NCs with biomolecules are still poorly investigated.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Protein stabilized Au nanoclusters: spectral properties and photostability

Poderys¹,

Matulionytė-Safinė²,

Rupšys³

et al. 2016

Lith. J. Phys.

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Bovine serum albumin stabilized gold nanoclusters (BSA-Au nanoclusters) have been widely studied due to their possible applications in biomedicine as sensors, fluorescent or multi-modality markers, and therapeutic agents. Synthesis and optical properties of these nanoclusters have been extensively investigated; however, there is still very little data on photostability of BSA-Au nanoclusters. Photostability of BSA-Au nanoclusters is of major importance for a variety of applications, such as material sensing and fluorescence imaging. Herein we demonstrate that after synthesis the BSA-Au solution has two photoluminescence (PL) bands peaking at 468 and 660 nm. Nevertheless, a different behaviour of the PL bands at 468 and 660 nm upon irradiation indicates that only band at 660 nm is related to PL of Au nanoclusters. BSA-Au nanoclusters exhibit great colloidal stability and do not undergo irreversible changes when heated up to 65 °C. However, irradiation of BSA-Au nanoclusters causes a wavelength dependent decrease of intensity and a hypsochromic shift of the PL band at 660 nm which is proportional to the delivered dose. The shift of the PL band at 660 nm could occur due to loss of several gold atoms in Au nanoclusters and/or due to deterioration of a nanoparticle coating layer. We have also demonstrated that the photostability of BSA-Au nanoclusters increases in the cell growth medium.

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“…10 Schematic illustration of FITC/BSA-AuNCs for the simultaneous ratiometric detection of temperature and pH changes. Reprinted with permission [126] fluorescence imaging agents for cancer bioimaging in vivo [128]. The imaging studies for MDA-MB-45 and HeLa tumor xenograft models revealed that the BSA-AuNCs were capable of highly aggregating in the tumor locations.…”

Section: Biological Imagingmentioning

confidence: 99%

Fluorescent Gold Nanoclusters: Promising Fluorescent Probes for Sensors and Bioimaging

Wang

Zhu

2017

J. Anal. Test.

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Fluorescent gold nanoclusters (AuNCs) have recently emerged as a novel kind of promising fluorescent probes for high-performance sensors and bioimaging because of their ultrasmall size (\3 nm), strong luminescence, good photostability, and excellent biocompatibility. Over the past decade, we have witnessed growing popularity of AuNCs in analytical applications and enormous efforts have been devoted to their development. In this review, we provide an update on recent advances in the development of AuNCs in terms of physicochemical properties, synthesis strategies, and bioapplications. The optical, electrochemical, catalytical, and solvatochromic properties of AuNCs are first summarized, which are followed by different ligands or template-assisted controllable synthetic methods. Afterwards functionalization of AuNCs is described in terms of ligand exchange, bioconjugation, and noncovalent interaction. We then focus on the applications of AuNCs as fluorescent probes for detection of metal ions, inorganic anions, small biomolecules, proteins, nucleic acids, drug molecules, pH, and temperature. We also summarize the usage of metal NCs in cellular and in vivo targeting and imaging. Finally, we conclude with a brief look at the future challenges and prospects of the development of AuNCs.

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Ultrasmall near-infrared gold nanoclusters for tumor fluorescence imaging in vivo

Cited by 344 publications

References 30 publications

Gold–silica quantum rattles for multimodal imaging and therapy

Gold–silica quantum rattles for multimodal imaging and therapy

Protein stabilized Au nanoclusters: spectral properties and photostability

Fluorescent Gold Nanoclusters: Promising Fluorescent Probes for Sensors and Bioimaging

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