title: Photosensitizer-conjugated silica-coated gold nanoclusters for fluorescence imaging-guided photodynamic therapy.
abstract: Multifunctional theranostics have recently been intensively explored to optimize the efficacy and safety of therapeutic regimens. In this work, a photo-theranostic agent based on chlorin e6 (Ce6) photosensitizer-conjugated silica-coated gold nanoclusters (AuNCs@SiO2-Ce6) is strategically designed and prepared for fluorescence imaging-guided photodynamic therapy (PDT). The AuNCs@SiO2-Ce6 shows the following features: i) high Ce6 photosensitizer loading; ii) no non-specific release of Ce6 during its circulation; iii) significantly enhanced cellular uptake efficiency of Ce6, offering a remarkably improved photodynamic therapeutic efficacy compared to free Ce6; iv) subcellular characterization of the nanoformula via both the fluorescence of Ce6 and plasmon luminescence of AuNCs; v) fluorescence imaging-guided photodynamic therapy (PDT). This photo-theranostics owns good stability, high water dispersibility and solubility, non-cytotoxicity, and good biocompatibility, thus facilitating its biomedical applications, particularly for multi-modal optical, CT and photoacoustic (PA) imaging-guided PDT or sonodynamic therapy.
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Nuclear Medicine, Ministry of Health, Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Molecular Nuclear Medicine, Jiangsu Institute of Nuclear Medicine, Wuxi 214063, China.
authors.forename: Peng
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.forename: Jing
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.forename: Shouju
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Zhijun
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Zhou
authors.forename: Zhiming
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Zhe
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Chunlei
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Xuyi
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Yue
authors.forename: Gang
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Niu
authors.forename: Min
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: Daxiang
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Cui
authors.forename: Xiaoyuan
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Chen
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D002735:Chlorophyllides; D005260:Female; D006046:Gold / Q000737:chemistry / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D051379:Mice; D008819:Mice, Nude; D049329:Nanostructures / Q000737:chemistry / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy*; D061848:Optical Imaging; D010778:Photochemotherapy / Q000379:methods*; D017319:Photosensitizing Agents / Q000737:chemistry / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011166:Porphyrins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D012822:Silicon Dioxide / Q000737:chemistry / Q000627:therapeutic use*
chemical_list: D002735:Chlorophyllides; D017319:Photosensitizing Agents; D011166:Porphyrins; C062985:phytochlorin; D006046:Gold; D012822:Silicon Dioxide