Real-Time Monitoring Surface Chemistry-Dependent In Vivo Behaviors of Protein Nanocages via Encapsulating an NIR-II Ag2S Quantum Dot.
Protein nanocages (PNCs) have been recognized as a promising platform for nanomedicine innovation. Real-time in vivo tracking of PNCs can provide critically important information for the development of PNC-based diagnostics and therapeutics. Here we demonstrate a general strategy for monitoring the behaviors of PNCs in vivo by encapsulating a Ag2S quantum dot (QD) with fluorescence in the second near-infrared window (NIR-II, 1000-1700 nm) inside the PNC, using simian virus 40 (SV40) PNC (PNCSV40) as a model. Benefiting from the high spatiotemporal resolution and deep tissue penetration of NIR-II fluorescence imaging, the dynamic distribution of the PNCSV40 in living mice was tracked in real time with high fidelity, and adopting the PEGylation strategy, surface chemistry-dependent in vivo behaviors of PNCSV40 were clearly revealed. This study represents the first evidence of real-time tracking of the intrinsic behaviors of PNCs in vivo without interference in PNC-host interactions by encapsulating nanoprobes inside. The as-described imaging strategy will facilitate the study of interactions between exogenously introduced PNCs and host body and prompt the development of future protein-based drugs, sensors, and high-efficacy targeted delivery systems.
Key Laboratory of Nano-Bio Interface, Division of Nanobiomedicine and i-Lab, CAS Center for Excellence in Brain Science, Suzhou Institute of Nano-Tech and Nano-Bionics, Chinese Academy of Sciences , Suzhou 215123, China.
Chunyan
C
Li
State Key Laboratory of Virology, Wuhan Institute of Virology, Chinese Academy of Sciences , Wuhan 430071, China.
Feng
F
Li
Key Laboratory of Nano-Bio Interface, Division of Nanobiomedicine and i-Lab, CAS Center for Excellence in Brain Science, Suzhou Institute of Nano-Tech and Nano-Bionics, Chinese Academy of Sciences , Suzhou 215123, China.
Yejun
Y
Zhang
State Key Laboratory of Virology, Wuhan Institute of Virology, Chinese Academy of Sciences , Wuhan 430071, China.
Wenjing
W
Zhang
National Laboratory of Biomacromolecules, Institute of Biophysics, Chinese Academy of Sciences , Beijing 100101, China.
Xian-En
XE
Zhang
Key Laboratory of Nano-Bio Interface, Division of Nanobiomedicine and i-Lab, CAS Center for Excellence in Brain Science, Suzhou Institute of Nano-Tech and Nano-Bionics, Chinese Academy of Sciences , Suzhou 215123, China.
Qiangbin
Q
Wang
D000818:Animals; D002460:Cell Line; D005456:Fluorescent Dyes / Q000737:chemistry / Q000493:pharmacokinetics*; D051379:Mice; D011506:Proteins / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000493:pharmacokinetics; D045663:Quantum Dots / Q000737:chemistry*; D018030:Silver Compounds / Q000737:chemistry*; D019265:Spectroscopy, Near-Infrared; D013499:Surface Properties; D014018:Tissue Distribution
D005456:Fluorescent Dyes; D011506:Proteins; D018030:Silver Compounds; C013251:silver sulfide
Ag2S quantum dots; in vivo imaging; near-infrared fluorescence; protein nanocage; surface chemistry