title: Facile Synthesis of Gd-Cu-In-S/ZnS Bimodal Quantum Dots with Optimized Properties for Tumor Targeted Fluorescence/MR In Vivo Imaging.
abstract: Dual-modal imaging techniques have gained intense attention for their potential role in the dawning era of tumor early accurate diagnosis. Chelate-free robust dual-modal imaging nanoprobes with high efficiency and low toxicity are of essential importance for tumor targeted dual-modal in vivo imaging. It is still a crucial issue to endow Cd-free dual-modal nanoprobes with bright fluorescence as well as high relaxivity. Herein, a facile synthetic strategy was developed to prepare Gd-doped CuInS/ZnS bimodal quantum dots (GCIS/ZnS, BQDs) with optimized properties. The fluorescent properties of the GCIS/ZnS BQDs can be thoroughly optimized by varying reaction temperature, aging time, and ZnS coating. The amount of Gd precursor can be well-controlled to realize the optimized balance between the MR relaxivity and optical properties. The obtained hydrophobic GCIS/ZnS BQDs were surface engineered into aqueous phase with PEGylated dextran-stearyl acid polymeric lipid vesicles (PEG-DS PLVs). Upon the phase transfer, the hydrophilic GCIS/ZnS@PLVs exhibited pronounced near-infrared fluorescence as well as high longitudinal relaxivity (r1 = 9.45 mM(-1) S(-1)) in water with good colloidal stability. In vivo tumor-bearing animal experiments further verified GCIS/ZnS@PLVs could achieve tumor-targeted MR/fluorescence dual-modal imaging. No toxicity was observed in the in vivo and ex vivo experiments. The GCIS/ZnS@PLVs present great potential as bimodal imaging contrast agents for tumor diagnosis.
authors.affiliation: School of Materials Science and Engineering, School of Life Science, Tianjin Engineering Center of Micro-Nano Biomaterials and Detection-Treatment Technology, Collaborative Innovation Center of Chemical Science and Engineering, Tianjin University , Tianjin 300072, China.
authors.forename: Weitao
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.affiliation: CAS Key Laboratory for Biological Effects of Nanomaterials & Nanosafety, National Center for Nanoscience and Technology , No. 11 Beiyitiao, Zhongguancun, Beijing 100190, China.
authors.forename: Weisheng
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Guo
authors.affiliation: School of Materials Science and Engineering, School of Life Science, Tianjin Engineering Center of Micro-Nano Biomaterials and Detection-Treatment Technology, Collaborative Innovation Center of Chemical Science and Engineering, Tianjin University , Tianjin 300072, China.
authors.forename: Xiaoqun
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Gong
authors.affiliation: Shanghai East Hospital, The Institute for Biomedical Engineering & Nano Science, Tongji University School of Medicine , Shanghai 200092, China.
authors.forename: Bingbo
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: School of Materials Science and Engineering, School of Life Science, Tianjin Engineering Center of Micro-Nano Biomaterials and Detection-Treatment Technology, Collaborative Innovation Center of Chemical Science and Engineering, Tianjin University , Tianjin 300072, China.
authors.forename: Sheng
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Radioprotection, School of Radiation Medicine and Health, Soochow University , Suzhou 200072, China.
authors.forename: Na
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.affiliation: School of Materials Science and Engineering, School of Life Science, Tianjin Engineering Center of Micro-Nano Biomaterials and Detection-Treatment Technology, Collaborative Innovation Center of Chemical Science and Engineering, Tianjin University , Tianjin 300072, China.
authors.forename: Wentao
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Radioprotection, School of Radiation Medicine and Health, Soochow University , Suzhou 200072, China.
authors.forename: Yu
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Tu
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Wuxi People's Hospital Affiliated to Nanjing Medical University , Jiangsu 214023, China.
authors.forename: Xiangming
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Fang
authors.affiliation: School of Materials Science and Engineering, School of Life Science, Tianjin Engineering Center of Micro-Nano Biomaterials and Detection-Treatment Technology, Collaborative Innovation Center of Chemical Science and Engineering, Tianjin University , Tianjin 300072, China.
authors.forename: Jin
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Chang
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D003287:Contrast Media / Q000138:chemical synthesis* / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D003300:Copper / Q000737:chemistry; D003911:Dextrans / Q000737:chemistry; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D005682:Gadolinium / Q000737:chemistry; D006801:Humans; D007204:Indium / Q000737:chemistry; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D051379:Mice; D008819:Mice, Nude; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000473:pathology; D061848:Optical Imaging; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols / Q000737:chemistry; D045663:Quantum Dots / Q000737:chemistry*; D013229:Stearic Acids / Q000737:chemistry; D013440:Sulfides / Q000737:chemistry; D014018:Tissue Distribution; D053835:Unilamellar Liposomes / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D017967:Zinc Compounds / Q000737:chemistry
chemical_list: D003287:Contrast Media; D003911:Dextrans; D013229:Stearic Acids; D013440:Sulfides; D053835:Unilamellar Liposomes; D017967:Zinc Compounds; D007204:Indium; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols; C031183:stearic acid; D003300:Copper; D005682:Gadolinium; C031238:zinc sulfide
keywords: MRI; dual-modal imaging; fluorescence imaging; quantum dots; targeted imaging