Targeting and detecting cancer cells using spontaneously formed multifunctional dendrimer-stabilized gold nanoparticles.
We develop a facile approach to fabricating multifunctional dendrimer-stabilized gold nanoparticles (Au DSNPs) for cancer cell targeting and imaging. In this work, amine-terminated generation 5 (G5) poly(amidoamine) (PAMAM) dendrimers pre-functionalized with folic acid (FA) and fluorescein isothiocyanate (FI) are complexed with Au(III) ions, followed by acetylation of the amine groups on the dendrimer surfaces. This one-step process leads to the spontaneous formation of 6 nm-sized Au nanoparticles stabilized by multifunctional dendrimers bearing both targeting and imaging functionalities. The multifunctional Au DSNPs are characterized by UV-Vis spectrometry, 1H NMR, and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The formed Au DSNPs are water-soluble, stable, and biocompatible. Combined flow cytometry, confocal microscopy, silver staining, and inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) analyses show that the FA- and FI-functionalized Au DSNPs can specifically target to cancer cells expressing high-affinity FA receptors in vitro. This approach to functionalizing Au DSNPs may be extended to other targeting molecules, providing a unique nanoplatform for targeting and imaging of a variety of biological systems.
Shi
Xiangyang
X
College of Chemistry, Chemical Engineering, and Biotechnology, Donghua University, Shanghai 210620, P. R. China. xshi@dhu.edu.cn
Wang
Su He
SH
Van Antwerp
Mary E
ME
Chen
Xisui
X
Baker
James R
JR
D002470:Cell Survival / Q000187:drug effects; D050091:Dendrimers / Q000737:chemistry*; D006046:Gold / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000633:toxicity; D006801:Humans; D007624:KB Cells; D053768:Metal Nanoparticles / Q000737:chemistry*; D057054:Molecular Imaging / Q000379:methods*; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D013499:Surface Properties
D050091:Dendrimers; D006046:Gold