FRET-like fluorophore-nanoparticle complex for highly specific cancer localization.
Fluorophore mediated bio-signal retrieval has been extensively used in molecular imaging. However, only a limited number of fluorophores can be used for humans and their quantum yield is usually low. Another important issue is emitting fluorescence at the disease site, with a minimal non-specific emission at any other sites. Artificial quenching and enhancing of fluorescence was found to be possible by manipulating the distance between a fluorophore and a certain type of nanometal particle. Utilizing this unique property, we have designed a novel, FRET-like, fluorophore-nanoparticle complex. The complex emits fluorescence conditionally only at a disease site at an enhanced level. As a model system, our complex is designed to target breast cancer. As an initial step for developing this cancer locator, fluorescence alteration was studied when a spacer at various lengths is placed between a nanogold particle and a safe fluorophore.
Wang
Jianting
J
Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Louisville, Louisville, KY 40292, USA. j0wang21@louisville.edu
Nantz
Michael H
MH
Achilefu
Samuel
S
Kang
Kyung A
KA
D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis*; D002232:Carbocyanines / Q000737:chemistry; D003102:Colloids; D005260:Female; D031541:Fluorescence Resonance Energy Transfer / Q000379:methods*; D005456:Fluorescent Dyes / Q000737:chemistry*; D006046:Gold / Q000737:chemistry; D006801:Humans; D053768:Metal Nanoparticles / Q000737:chemistry*; D057054:Molecular Imaging / Q000379:methods*
D002232:Carbocyanines; D003102:Colloids; D005456:Fluorescent Dyes; D006046:Gold