title: (99m)Tc-Labeled Multifunctional Low-Generation Dendrimer-Entrapped Gold Nanoparticles for Targeted SPECT/CT Dual-Mode Imaging of Tumors.
abstract: Development of cost-effective and highly efficient nanoprobes for targeted tumor single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT)/computed tomography (CT) dual-mode imaging remains a challenging task. Here, multifunctional dendrimer-entrapped gold nanoparticles (Au DENPs) modified with folic acid (FA) and labeled with (99m)Tc were synthesized for targeted dual-mode SPECT/CT imaging of tumors. Generation 2 (G2) poly(amidoamine) (PAMAM) dendrimers (G2-NH2) conjugated with cyclic diethylenetriamine pentaacetic anhydride (cDTPAA) via an amide linkage and FA via a spacer of polyethylene glycol (PEG) were used for templated synthesis of Au core NPs, followed by labeling of (99m)Tc via chelation. The thus created multifunctional Au DENPs were well-characterized. It is shown that particles with an average Au core diameter of 1.6 nm can be dispersed in water, display stability under different conditions, and are cytocompatible in the studied concentration range. Further results demonstrate that the multifunctional nanoprobe is able to be utilized for targeted SPECT/CT dual-mode imaging of cancer cells having FA receptor (FAR)-overexpression in vitro and the established subcutaneous tumor model in vivo within a time frame up to 4 h. The formed multifunctional Au DENPs synthesized using dendrimers of low-generation may be employed as an effective and economic nanoprobe for SPECT/CT imaging of different types of FAR-expressing tumors.
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory for Modification of Chemical Fibers and Polymer Materials, College of Chemistry, Chemical Engineering and Biotechnology, Donghua University , Shanghai 201620, P. R. China.
authors.forename: Xin
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Shanghai Tenth People's Hospital, School of Medicine, Tongji University , Shanghai 200072, P. R. China.
authors.forename: Zuogang
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Xiong
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory for Modification of Chemical Fibers and Polymer Materials, College of Chemistry, Chemical Engineering and Biotechnology, Donghua University , Shanghai 201620, P. R. China.
authors.forename: Xiaoying
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Xu
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory for Modification of Chemical Fibers and Polymer Materials, College of Chemistry, Chemical Engineering and Biotechnology, Donghua University , Shanghai 201620, P. R. China.
authors.forename: Yu
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Luo
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Shanghai Tenth People's Hospital, School of Medicine, Tongji University , Shanghai 200072, P. R. China.
authors.forename: Chen
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Peng
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory for Modification of Chemical Fibers and Polymer Materials, College of Chemistry, Chemical Engineering and Biotechnology, Donghua University , Shanghai 201620, P. R. China.
authors.forename: Mingwu
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Shen
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory for Modification of Chemical Fibers and Polymer Materials, College of Chemistry, Chemical Engineering and Biotechnology, Donghua University , Shanghai 201620, P. R. China.
authors.forename: Xiangyang
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Shi
mesh_terms: D050091:Dendrimers; D006046:Gold; D006801:Humans; D053768:Metal Nanoparticles; D009369:Neoplasms; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed
chemical_list: D050091:Dendrimers; D006046:Gold
keywords: SPECT/CT imaging; dendrimers; folic acid targeting; gold nanoparticles; tumors