title: MUC1 aptamer-based near-infrared fluorescence probes for tumor imaging.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  DNA aptamer (APT) is able to bind to Mucin 1 (MUC1) specifically. The possibility of APT acting as a moiety to construct tumor-targeting probes was investigated.
  
  
  METHODS
  A near-infrared (NIR) fluorescent dye (MPA) and polyethylene glycol (PEG) were conjugated to APT to form APT-MPA and APT-PEG-MPA. The successful synthesis of the two probes was characterized via thin layer chromatography (TLC) and optical spectra. The tumor-targeting efficacy of the probes was evaluated in detail at cell level and animal level, respectively.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The results indicated that MPA and PEG were successfully coupled with APT. APT-based probes were mediated by Mucin 1 into tumor cells, and PEG-modified probe exhibited higher cell affinity.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The aptamer-based NIR fluorescent probes are promising candidates for tumor imaging and diagnosis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomedical Engineering, School of Life Science and Technology, State Key Laboratory of Natural Medicines, China Pharmaceutical University, 24 Tongjia Lane, Gulou District, Nanjing, 210009, China.
authors.forename: Haiyan
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Juan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Zhao
authors.forename: Min
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Haibo
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: Yuxiang
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Ma
authors.forename: Yueqing
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Gu
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D052157:Aptamers, Nucleotide / Q000737:chemistry*; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D002855:Chromatography, Thin Layer; D005456:Fluorescent Dyes / Q000737:chemistry*; D056945:Hep G2 Cells; D006801:Humans; D061986:MCF-7 Cells; D051379:Mice; D008819:Mice, Nude; D018613:Microscopy, Confocal; D018396:Mucin-1 / Q000737:chemistry*; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000473:pathology*; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols / Q000737:chemistry; D013056:Spectrophotometry, Ultraviolet; D019265:Spectroscopy, Near-Infrared
chemical_list: D052157:Aptamers, Nucleotide; D005456:Fluorescent Dyes; C060192:MUC1 protein, human; D018396:Mucin-1; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols