title: Multimodal-luminescence core-shell nanocomposites for targeted imaging of tumor cells.
abstract: Uniform silica-coated NaYF(4): 20 mol % Yb, 2 mol % Er nanocomposites with good dispersibility, containing organic dye incorporated in the silica shell and folic acid conjugated on the surface of the shell, were prepared and characterized. The core-shell nanocomposites are 20-22 nm in size, water soluble, and buffer stable, with good photostability and biocompatibility. Folic acid (FA) offers a means of targeting human cells that greatly overexpress the folate receptor (FR). By the use of confocal microscopy and quantitative flow cytometry analysis, we demonstrate the receptor-mediated delivery of FA-conjugated nanocomposites targeting FR-positive cell lines, such as KB cells. The receptor-mediated targeting was confirmed by a comparison with the uptake of these nanocomposites in FR-negative cell lines, such as MCF-7. These results show that the silica-coated upconverting nanophosphor (UCNP) nanocomposites prepared by our strategy can potentially be useful as multimodal bioimaging agents.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry & Laboratory of Advanced Materials, Fudan University, 220 Handan Road, Shanghai, P. R. China.
authors.forename: He
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Hu
authors.forename: Liqin
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Xiong
authors.forename: Jing
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Zhou
authors.forename: Fuyou
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Tianye
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Cao
authors.forename: Chunhui
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Huang
mesh_terms: D002352:Carrier Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D003952:Diagnostic Imaging; D016650:Fluorescein-5-isothiocyanate / Q000737:chemistry; D058973:Folate Receptors, GPI-Anchored; D005492:Folic Acid / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000494:pharmacology; D006801:Humans; D007624:KB Cells; D049449:Luminescence; D049408:Luminescent Agents / Q000138:chemical synthesis / Q000737:chemistry*; D046529:Microscopy, Electron, Transmission; D008856:Microscopy, Fluorescence; D053761:Nanocomposites / Q000737:chemistry*; D011956:Receptors, Cell Surface / Q000378:metabolism; D012822:Silicon Dioxide / Q000138:chemical synthesis / Q000737:chemistry*; D015019:Yttrium / Q000737:chemistry
chemical_list: D002352:Carrier Proteins; D058973:Folate Receptors, GPI-Anchored; D049408:Luminescent Agents; D011956:Receptors, Cell Surface; D015019:Yttrium; D012822:Silicon Dioxide; D005492:Folic Acid; D016650:Fluorescein-5-isothiocyanate