title: Enhanced intratumoral uptake of quantum dots concealed within hydrogel nanoparticles.
abstract: Effective nanomedical devices for tumor imaging and drug delivery are not yet available. In an attempt to construct a more functional device for tumor imaging, we have embedded quantum dots (which have poor circulatory behavior) within hydrogel nanoparticles made of poly-N-isopropylacrylamide. We found that the hydrogel encapsulated quantum dots are more readily taken up by cultured tumor cells. Furthermore, in a melanoma model, hydrogel encapsulated quantum dots also preferentially accumulate in the tumor tissue compared with normal tissue and have ∼16-fold greater intratumoral uptake compared to non-derivatized quantum dots. Our results suggest that these derivatized quantum dots, which have greatly improved tumor localization, may enhance cancer monitoring and chemotherapy.
authors.affiliation: Joint Program in Bioengineering, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas and The University of Texas at Arlington, Arlington, TX 76019, USA.
authors.forename: Ashwin
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Nair
authors.forename: Jinhui
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Shen
authors.forename: Paul
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Thevenot
authors.forename: Ling
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Zou
authors.forename: Tong
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Cai
authors.forename: Zhibing
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Hu
authors.forename: Liping
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Tang