title: Dendrimer-entrapped gold nanoparticles as a platform for cancer-cell targeting and imaging.
abstract: We present a general approach for the targeting and imaging of cancer cells using dendrimer-entrapped gold nanoparticles (Au DENPs). Au DENPs were found to be able to covalently link with targeting and imaging ligands for subsequent cancer-cell targeting and imaging. The Au DENPs linked with defined numbers of folic acid (FA) and fluorescein isothiocyanate (FI) molecules are water soluble, stable, and biocompatible. In vitro studies show that the FA- and FI-modified Au DENPs can specifically bind to KB cells (a human epithelial carcinoma cell line) that overexpress high-affinity folate receptors and they are internalized dominantly into lysosomes of target cells within 2 h. These findings demonstrate that Au DENPs may serve as a general platform for cancer imaging and therapeutics.
authors.affiliation: Michigan Nanotechnology Institute for Medicine and Biological Sciences, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA. xshi@umich.edu
authors.forename: Xiangyang
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Shi
authors.forename: Suhe
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Sasha
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Meshinchi
authors.forename: Mary E
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Van Antwerp
authors.forename: Xiangdong
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Bi
authors.forename: Inhan
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: James R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Baker
mesh_terms: D002277:Carcinoma / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D050091:Dendrimers; D016503:Drug Delivery Systems; D004847:Epithelial Cells / Q000187:drug effects / Q000648:ultrastructure; D006046:Gold; D006801:Humans; D053768:Metal Nanoparticles / Q000633:toxicity*; D046529:Microscopy, Electron, Transmission; D013056:Spectrophotometry, Ultraviolet
chemical_list: D050091:Dendrimers; D006046:Gold