title: Target-cell-specific fluorescence silica nanoprobes for imaging and theranostics of cancer cells.
abstract: MicroRNAs (miRNAs) has been identified as diagnostic and prognostic biomarkers and predictors of drug response for many diseases, including a broad range of cancers, heart disease, and neurological diseases. The noninvasive theranostics system for miRNAs is very important for diagnosis and therapy of the cellular disease. Herein, a target-cell-specific theranostics nanoprobe for target-cell-specific delivery, cancer cells and intracellular miRNA-21 imaging, and cancer cell growth inhibition was proposed. The nanoprobe (FS-AS/MB) was prepared by simultaneously coupling of the AS1411 aptamer and miRNA-21 molecular beacon (miR-21-MB) onto the surface of Ru(bpy)₃²⁺-encapsulated silica (FS) nanoparticles. The FS nanoparticles synthesized by a facile reverse microemulsion method showed nearly monodisperse spherical shape with a smooth surface, good colloidal stability, a fluorescence quantum yield of ~21%, and low cytotoxicity. The antibiofouling polymer PEG grafted onto a silica shell reduced nonspecific uptake of cells. The ability of FS-AS/MB for target-specific cells delivery, simultaneous cancer cells, intracellular miRNA-21 imaging, and inhibition of miRNA-21 function and suppression of cell growth in vitro, were also demonstrated. The results of the present study suggested that the proposed nanoprobes would be a promising theranostics for different cancers by imaging and inhibiting other intracellular genes.
authors.affiliation: School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Southeast University , Jiangning District, Nanjing 211189, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Henan
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Yawen
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Mu
authors.forename: Jusheng
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Lu
authors.forename: Wei
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Wei
authors.forename: Yakun
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Wan
authors.forename: Songqin
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Liu
mesh_terms: D001483:Base Sequence; D017931:DNA Primers; D005453:Fluorescence; D006801:Humans; D061986:MCF-7 Cells; D015335:Molecular Probes; D053758:Nanoparticles; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology*; D012822:Silicon Dioxide / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D017931:DNA Primers; D015335:Molecular Probes; D012822:Silicon Dioxide