title: Multimodal near-infrared-emitting PluS Silica nanoparticles with fluorescent, photoacoustic, and photothermal capabilities.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of the present study was to develop nanoprobes with theranostic features, including - at the same time - photoacoustic, near-infrared (NIR) optical imaging, and photothermal properties, in a versatile and stable core-shell silica-polyethylene glycol (PEG) nanoparticle architecture.
  
  
  METHODS
  We synthesized core-shell silica-PEG nanoparticles by a one-pot direct micelles approach. Fluorescence emission and photoacoustic and photothermal properties were obtained at the same time by appropriate doping with triethoxysilane-derivatized cyanine 5.5 (Cy5.5) and cyanine 7 (Cy7) dyes. The performances of these nanoprobes were measured in vitro, using nanoparticle suspensions in phosphate-buffered saline and blood, dedicated phantoms, and after incubation with MDA-MB-231 cells.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We obtained core-shell silica-PEG nanoparticles endowed with very high colloidal stability in water and in biological environment, with absorption and fluorescence emission in the NIR field. The presence of Cy5.5 and Cy7 dyes made it possible to reach a more reproducible and higher doping regime, producing fluorescence emission at a single excitation wavelength in two different channels, owing to the energy transfer processes within the nanoparticle. The nanoarchitecture and the presence of both Cy5.5 and Cy7 dyes provided a favorable agreement between fluorescence emission and quenching, to achieve optical imaging and photoacoustic and photothermal properties.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  We obtained rationally designed nanoparticles with outstanding stability in biological environment. At appropriate doping regimes, the presence of Cy5.5 and Cy7 dyes allowed us to tune fluorescence emission in the NIR for optical imaging and to exploit quenching processes for photoacoustic and photothermal capabilities. These nanostructures are promising in vivo theranostic tools for the near future.
authors.affiliation: Institute for Maternal and Child Health - IRCCS "Burlo Garofolo", Trieste.
authors.forename: Stefania
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Biffi
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry "G Ciamician", University of Bologna, Bologna.
authors.forename: Luca
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Petrizza
authors.affiliation: Institute for Maternal and Child Health - IRCCS "Burlo Garofolo", Trieste.
authors.forename: Chiara
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Garrovo
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry "G Ciamician", University of Bologna, Bologna.
authors.forename: Enrico
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Rampazzo
authors.affiliation: IOM-CNR TASC Laboratory, Basovizza, Trieste.
authors.forename: Laura
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Andolfi
authors.affiliation: Ephoran - Multi-Imaging Solutions, Bioindustry Park Silvano Fumero, Torino.
authors.forename: Pierangela
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Giustetto
authors.affiliation: Elettra-Sincrotrone Trieste, Trieste.
authors.forename: Ivaylo
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Nikolov
authors.affiliation: Elettra-Sincrotrone Trieste, Trieste.
authors.forename: Gabor
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Kurdi
authors.affiliation: Elettra-Sincrotrone Trieste, Trieste.
authors.forename: Miltcho Boyanov
authors.initials: MB
authors.lastname: Danailov
authors.affiliation: Institute for Maternal and Child Health - IRCCS "Burlo Garofolo", Trieste.
authors.forename: Giorgio
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Zauli
authors.affiliation: Department of Morphology, Surgery and Experimental Medicine and LTTA Centre, University of Ferrara, Ferrara, Italy.
authors.forename: Paola
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Secchiero
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry "G Ciamician", University of Bologna, Bologna.
authors.forename: Luca
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Prodi
mesh_terms: D052160:Benzothiazoles / Q000378:metabolism; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology*; D002232:Carbocyanines / Q000378:metabolism; D004396:Coloring Agents / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D005453:Fluorescence; D005456:Fluorescent Dyes / Q000737:chemistry*; D006801:Humans; D006979:Hyperthermia, Induced / Q000379:methods; D008823:Micelles; D064847:Multimodal Imaging / Q000379:methods*; D053758:Nanoparticles / Q000737:chemistry*; D049329:Nanostructures / Q000737:chemistry; D061848:Optical Imaging / Q000379:methods; D061088:Photoacoustic Techniques / Q000379:methods*; D010789:Phototherapy; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols / Q000737:chemistry*; D012822:Silicon Dioxide / Q000737:chemistry*; D014407:Tumor Cells, Cultured
chemical_list: D052160:Benzothiazoles; D002232:Carbocyanines; D004396:Coloring Agents; D005456:Fluorescent Dyes; D008823:Micelles; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols; C011204:cyanine dye 7; D012822:Silicon Dioxide
keywords: NIR imaging; PEGylated nanoparticles; dye-doped nanoparticles; optical imaging; photoacoustic imaging; photothermal therapy