title: Controlled intracellular self-assembly of gadolinium nanoparticles as smart molecular MR contrast agents.
abstract: Herein we developed a new "smart" Gd-based MR contrast agent (i.e., 1) which is susceptive to furin, a protease overexpressed in tumor. Under the action of furin, 1 condenses to form dimers (1-Ds) and the latter self-assemble into gadolinium nanparticles (Gd-NPs). Relaxivity of 1-D is more than 2 folds of those of 1 and magnevist at 1.5 T, and 1.4 folds of that of 1 at 3 T. Intracellular condensation of 1 in furin-overexpressed MDA-MB-468 cells was proven with direct two-photon laser microscopy (TPLM) fluorescence imaging of the cells incubated with the europium analog of 1 (i.e., 2). Intracellular Gd-NPs of 1 were uncovered and characterized for the first time. MRI of MDA-MB-468 tumors showed that 1 has enhanced MR contrast within the tumors than that of its scrambled control 1-Scr.
authors.affiliation: CAS Key Laboratory of Soft Matter Chemistry, Department of Chemistry, University of Science and Technology of China, 96 Jinzhai Road, Hefei, Anhui 230026, China.
authors.forename: Chun-Yan
authors.initials: CY
authors.lastname: Cao
authors.forename: Ying-Ying
authors.initials: YY
authors.lastname: Shen
authors.forename: Jian-Dong
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Li
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Gao-Lin
authors.initials: GL
authors.lastname: Liang
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D003287:Contrast Media / Q000138:chemical synthesis / Q000737:chemistry*; D019281:Dimerization; D005063:Europium / Q000737:chemistry; D045683:Furin / Q000378:metabolism; D005682:Gadolinium / Q000737:chemistry*; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D053768:Metal Nanoparticles / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D051379:Mice; D008819:Mice, Nude; D018613:Microscopy, Confocal; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D011859:Radiography; D014183:Transplantation, Heterologous
chemical_list: D003287:Contrast Media; D005063:Europium; D005682:Gadolinium; D045683:Furin