The biocompatibility of quantum dot probes used for the targeted imaging of hepatocellular carcinoma metastasis.
Semiconductor quantum dots (QDs) have several photo-physical advantages over organic dyes making them good markers in biomedical application. We used CdSe/ZnS QDs with maximum emission wavelength of 590nm (QD590) linked to alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) monoclonal antibody (Ab) to detect AFP in cytoplasm of human hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) cell line HCCLM6. For the in vivo studies, we used QD-AFP-Ab probes for targeted imaging of human HCC xenograft growing in nude mice by injecting them into the tail vein. In addition, the cytotoxicity in vitro, the acute toxicity in vivo, the hemodynamics and tissue distribution of these probes were also investigated. The results in vitro and in vivo indicate that our QD-based probes have good stability, specificity and biocompatibility for ultrasensitive fluorescence imaging of molecular targets in our liver cancer model system.
Chen
Liang-Dong
LD
Department of Oncology, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Hubei Key Laboratory of Tumor Biological Behaviors, No. 169 Donghu Road, Wuchang District, Wuhan 430071, China.
Liu
Jia
J
Yu
Xue-Feng
XF
He
Man
M
Pei
Xiao-Feng
XF
Tang
Zhao-You
ZY
Wang
Qu-Quan
QQ
Pang
Dai-Wen
DW
Li
Yan
Y
D000818:Animals; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D001672:Biocompatible Materials / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000633:toxicity; D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000473:pathology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D016923:Cell Death / Q000187:drug effects; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D006439:Hemodynamics / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D021621:Imaging, Three-Dimensional; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000556:secondary*; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008819:Mice, Nude; D015335:Molecular Probes / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000633:toxicity; D045663:Quantum Dots; D014018:Tissue Distribution / Q000187:drug effects; D023382:Toxicity Tests, Acute; D023041:Xenograft Model Antitumor Assays; D000509:alpha-Fetoproteins / Q000378:metabolism
D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D001672:Biocompatible Materials; D015335:Molecular Probes; D000509:alpha-Fetoproteins