An 'activatable' aptamer-based fluorescence probe for the detection of HepG2 cells.
It is significant to develop a probe with sensitivity and specificity for the detection of cancer cells. The present study aimed to develop an 'activatable' aptamer-based fluorescence probe (AAFP) to detect cancer cells and frozen cancer tissue. This AAFP consisted of two fragments: aptamer TLS11a that targets HepG2 cells, and two short extending complementary DNA sequences with a 5'- and 3'-terminus that make the aptamer in hairpin structure a capable quencher to fluorophore. The ability of the AAFP to bind specifically to cancer cells was assessed using flow cytometry, fluorescence spectroscopy and fluorescence microscopy. Its ability to bind to frozen cancer tissue was assessed using fluorescence microscopy. As a result, in the absence of cancer cells, AAFP showed minimal fluorescence, reflecting auto-quenching. In the presence of cancer cells, however, AAFP showed a strong fluorescent signal. Therefore, this AAFP may be a promising tool for sensitive and specific detection of cancer.
National Center for International Research of Biological Targeting Diagnosis and Therapy, Guangxi Key Laboratory of Biological Targeting Diagnosis and Therapy Research, Collaborative Innovation Center for Targeting Tumor Diagnosis and Therapy, Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, Guangxi 530021, P.R. China.
Zongqiang
Z
Lai
National Center for International Research of Biological Targeting Diagnosis and Therapy, Guangxi Key Laboratory of Biological Targeting Diagnosis and Therapy Research, Collaborative Innovation Center for Targeting Tumor Diagnosis and Therapy, Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, Guangxi 530021, P.R. China.
Juntao
J
Tan
National Center for International Research of Biological Targeting Diagnosis and Therapy, Guangxi Key Laboratory of Biological Targeting Diagnosis and Therapy Research, Collaborative Innovation Center for Targeting Tumor Diagnosis and Therapy, Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, Guangxi 530021, P.R. China.
Ruirong
R
Wan
National Center for International Research of Biological Targeting Diagnosis and Therapy, Guangxi Key Laboratory of Biological Targeting Diagnosis and Therapy Research, Collaborative Innovation Center for Targeting Tumor Diagnosis and Therapy, Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, Guangxi 530021, P.R. China.
Jie
J
Tan
National Center for International Research of Biological Targeting Diagnosis and Therapy, Guangxi Key Laboratory of Biological Targeting Diagnosis and Therapy Research, Collaborative Innovation Center for Targeting Tumor Diagnosis and Therapy, Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, Guangxi 530021, P.R. China.
Zhenghua
Z
Zhang
National Center for International Research of Biological Targeting Diagnosis and Therapy, Guangxi Key Laboratory of Biological Targeting Diagnosis and Therapy Research, Collaborative Innovation Center for Targeting Tumor Diagnosis and Therapy, Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, Guangxi 530021, P.R. China.
Zixi
Z
Hu
National Center for International Research of Biological Targeting Diagnosis and Therapy, Guangxi Key Laboratory of Biological Targeting Diagnosis and Therapy Research, Collaborative Innovation Center for Targeting Tumor Diagnosis and Therapy, Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, Guangxi 530021, P.R. China.
Jieping
J
Li
National Center for International Research of Biological Targeting Diagnosis and Therapy, Guangxi Key Laboratory of Biological Targeting Diagnosis and Therapy Research, Collaborative Innovation Center for Targeting Tumor Diagnosis and Therapy, Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, Guangxi 530021, P.R. China.
Wei
W
Yang
National Center for International Research of Biological Targeting Diagnosis and Therapy, Guangxi Key Laboratory of Biological Targeting Diagnosis and Therapy Research, Collaborative Innovation Center for Targeting Tumor Diagnosis and Therapy, Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, Guangxi 530021, P.R. China.
Yiwei
Y
Wang
National Center for International Research of Biological Targeting Diagnosis and Therapy, Guangxi Key Laboratory of Biological Targeting Diagnosis and Therapy Research, Collaborative Innovation Center for Targeting Tumor Diagnosis and Therapy, Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, Guangxi 530021, P.R. China.
Yafeng
Y
Jiang
National Center for International Research of Biological Targeting Diagnosis and Therapy, Guangxi Key Laboratory of Biological Targeting Diagnosis and Therapy Research, Collaborative Innovation Center for Targeting Tumor Diagnosis and Therapy, Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, Guangxi 530021, P.R. China.
Jian
J
He
National Center for International Research of Biological Targeting Diagnosis and Therapy, Guangxi Key Laboratory of Biological Targeting Diagnosis and Therapy Research, Collaborative Innovation Center for Targeting Tumor Diagnosis and Therapy, Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, Guangxi 530021, P.R. China.
Nuo
N
Yang
National Center for International Research of Biological Targeting Diagnosis and Therapy, Guangxi Key Laboratory of Biological Targeting Diagnosis and Therapy Research, Collaborative Innovation Center for Targeting Tumor Diagnosis and Therapy, Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, Guangxi 530021, P.R. China.
Xiaoling
X
Lu
National Center for International Research of Biological Targeting Diagnosis and Therapy, Guangxi Key Laboratory of Biological Targeting Diagnosis and Therapy Research, Collaborative Innovation Center for Targeting Tumor Diagnosis and Therapy, Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, Guangxi 530021, P.R. China.
Yongxiang
Y
Zhao
D000818:Animals; D052157:Aptamers, Nucleotide / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000378:metabolism*; D004277:DNA, Single-Stranded; D005260:Female; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D005453:Fluorescence; D005456:Fluorescent Dyes / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000378:metabolism; D056945:Hep G2 Cells / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D008856:Microscopy, Fluorescence; D013050:Spectrometry, Fluorescence
D052157:Aptamers, Nucleotide; D004277:DNA, Single-Stranded; D005456:Fluorescent Dyes