A straightforward route to the synthesis of a surface-enhanced Raman scattering probe for targeting transferrin receptor-overexpressed cells.
A tumor cell targeting surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) probe has been successfully synthesized by using p-mercaptobenzoic acid (pMBA) as both the SERS reporter and the conjugation agent for attaching transferrin molecules, which shows experimentally the targeting ability for transferrin receptor-overexpressed HeLa cells and exhibits strong SERS signals when being incubated inside cells. To prove that the uptake of such a SERS probe is through a Tf-receptor-mediated endocytosis process, two control experiments: (1) HeLa cells being incubated with the probe at 4 degrees C and (2) HeLa cells being pre-blocked with free transferrin at 37 degrees C, were employed. The difference of SERS intensity between the transferrin-overexpressed HeLa cells and transferrin-pre-blocked HeLa cells indicates that the probe has the potential to selectively target tumor cells.
Yang
Jing
J
Advanced Photonics Center, Southeast University, Nanjing 210096, People's Republic of China.
Wang
Zhuyuan
Z
Tan
Xuebin
X
Li
Jin
J
Song
Chunyuan
C
Zhang
Ruohu
R
Cui
Yiping
Y
D002470:Cell Survival; D004705:Endocytosis; D006367:HeLa Cells; D006801:Humans; D053768:Metal Nanoparticles / Q000648:ultrastructure; D015335:Molecular Probes / Q000138:chemical synthesis*; D011990:Receptors, Transferrin / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D012834:Silver / Q000378:metabolism; D013059:Spectrum Analysis, Raman / Q000379:methods*; D013379:Substrate Specificity; D013499:Surface Properties; D014168:Transferrin / Q000378:metabolism
D015335:Molecular Probes; D011990:Receptors, Transferrin; D014168:Transferrin; D012834:Silver