title: Fabrication of RGD-conjugated Gd(OH)3:Eu nanorods with enhancement of magnetic resonance, luminescence imaging and in vivo tumor targeting.
abstract: The development of multimodal probes with magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and intraoperative fluorescence imaging is the most challenging task in the field of tumor diagnosis. Herein, a simple one-pot hydrothermal method is used to prepare Eu-doped Gd(OH)3nanorods (Gd(OH)3:Eu NRs) with good fluorescence and the longitudinal relaxivity r1value of 4.78 (Gd mM s-1). After dual-functionalized maleimide-polyethylene glycol-succinimide (Mal-PEG-NHS) macromolecules are coated on the surface of Gd(OH)3:Eu NRs (PEG-NRs), the results of a lower degradation ratio in newborn calf serum (NCS), reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation in L929 cells and the hemolytic rate of PEG-NRs show their good cyto-compatibility and longer blood circulation time. Moreover, the actively tumor-targeting properties are endowed to NRs through the conjugation of cyclic arginine-glycine-aspartic acid (cRGD) (denoted RGD-NRs). The bio-distributions of RGD-NRs in tumor-bearing nude mice via tail-vein injection indicate that RGD-NRs are specifically taken-up by gliomas. The tests of in vivo T1-weighted MR imaging via tail-vein injection confirm that RGD-NRs possess a higher positive signal-enhancement ability in gliomas. Besides, the better luminescence imaging of living cells under a fluorescence microscope and the clear in vivo fluorescence imaging further confirm the targeting properties and better in vivo optical imaging behavior of RGD-NRs.
authors.affiliation: College of Materials Science and Engineering, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610065, China. zbhuang@scu.edu.cn.
authors.forename: Bianyun
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Cai
authors.affiliation: College of Materials Science and Engineering, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610065, China. zbhuang@scu.edu.cn.
authors.forename: Zhongbing
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.affiliation: College of Materials Science and Engineering, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610065, China. zbhuang@scu.edu.cn.
authors.forename: Zhi
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.affiliation: Molecular Imaging Center, Department of Radiology, West China Hospital of Sichuan University, China. gaofabao@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: Lei
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: College of Materials Science and Engineering, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610065, China. zbhuang@scu.edu.cn.
authors.forename: Guangfu
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Yin
authors.affiliation: Molecular Imaging Center, Department of Radiology, West China Hospital of Sichuan University, China. gaofabao@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: Fabao
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Gao