In-vitro and in-vivo imaging of prostate tumor using NaYF4: Yb, Er up-converting nanoparticles.
The aim of this study was to investigate the feasibility of prostate tumor bioimaging both in vitro and in vivo using an upconversion fluorophore, NaYF4: Yb, Er nanoparticles. Luminescent signals of human prostate cancer cells (CWR22R and LNCaP) labeled with NaYF4: Yb, Er nanoparticles were detected by laser scanning confocal microscope, while Cy3 or FITC was used as control probe. Mouse-human prostate cancer model was developed by subcutaneously injecting the CWR22R cells into BALB/c nude mice to investigate the in-vivo imaging properties of NaYF4:Yb, Er nanoparticles. Both CWR22R and LNCaP cells could phagocytose NaYF4:Yb, Er nanoparticles in vitro, and the cellular uptake of CWR22R cells was much higher than that of LNCaP cells (95.42 ± 3.47 % vs. 51.63 ± 6.43 %), which made us choose the former for the further study. CWR22R cells pre-labeled with NaYF4:Yb, Er nanoparticles showed no obvious decrease of fluorescence intensity (P > 0.05) after light exposure, while the fluorescence intensity of Cy3 or FITC labeled cells decreased rapidly with prolonged bleaching (P < 0.05). Furthermore, the in-vivo results showed that the prostate cancer cells pre-labeled with or without NaYF4:Yb, Er nanoparticles formed tumors 4 weeks after injection, and the tumor length-diameter of the nanoparticle group and the control group was (10.3 ± 2.0) mm and (9.8 ± 2.5) mm, respectively. Significant upconversion fluorescence signals were observed in the tumors of the nanoparticle group when being excited at 980 nm by a NIR laser. In summary, the results suggest that as an intensive fluorescence imaging label agent, NaYF4:Yb, Er nanoparticles possess unique features and can be used for imaging prostate tumor cells both in vitro and in vivo by phagocytosis.
Department of Urology, Xinhua Hospital, Shanghai Jiaotong University School of Medicine, No.1665 Kongjiang Road, Yangpu District, Shanghai, 200092, China.
Yongjiang
Y
Yu
Tao
T
Huang
Yu
Y
Wu
Xiaorong
X
Ma
Guopeng
G
Yu
Jun
J
Qi
D000818:Animals; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D005453:Fluorescence; D005456:Fluorescent Dyes; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D008819:Mice, Nude; D046529:Microscopy, Electron, Transmission / Q000379:methods; D053758:Nanoparticles; D061848:Optical Imaging / Q000379:methods; D011471:Prostatic Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology*
D005456:Fluorescent Dyes