AuGd integrated nanoprobes for optical/MRI/CT triple-modal in vivo tumor imaging.
Multi-modal imaging agents are desirable for tumor diagnosis because they can provide more information on the tumor than single-modal imaging agents. However, most reported multi-modal imaging agents are dual-modal agents rather than tri-modal agents; therefore, detailed information on the tumor may still be insufficient when such imaging agents are used. To ameliorate this issue, we synthesized a tri-modal imaging agent, composed of gold cluster and gadolinium oxide integrated nanoparticles (denoted as AuGds) using bovine serum albumin (BSA) as the template via a bio-mineralization method. The AuGds exhibit red fluorescence at ∼660 nm for optical imaging, strong X-ray absorption (around 700 HU) for CT imaging, and a high r1value (∼12.39 mM-1s-1) for MR imaging. After being chemically modified with folic acid (FA), the AuGds can specifically target folate receptors on KB tumor cells, and permit in vivo optical, MR, and CT imaging of xenografted tumors. By comparing these three imaging modalities, very clear structural and anatomical information on the in vivo tumor can be obtained. The AuGds show good biocompatibility, quick renal clearance, and do not induce normal tissue toxicity in vivo.
College of Life Science and Bioengineering, Beijing University of Technology, 100124, China. luoyj@bjut.edu.cn and Key Laboratory for Biomedical Effects of Nanomaterials and Nanosafety, Institute of High Energy Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China. wangyaling@ihep.ac.cn gaoxy@ihep.ac.cn.
Chao
C
Xu
Key Laboratory for Biomedical Effects of Nanomaterials and Nanosafety, Institute of High Energy Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China. wangyaling@ihep.ac.cn gaoxy@ihep.ac.cn.
Yaling
http://orcid.org/0000-0002-5845-5150
Y
Wang
Key Laboratory for Biomedical Effects of Nanomaterials and Nanosafety, Institute of High Energy Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China. wangyaling@ihep.ac.cn gaoxy@ihep.ac.cn.
Chunyu
C
Zhang
State-Key Laboratory of Analog and Mixed-Signal VLSI, University of Macau, Macau, China.
Yanwei
http://orcid.org/0000-0001-5795-7450
Y
Jia
College of Life Science and Bioengineering, Beijing University of Technology, 100124, China. luoyj@bjut.edu.cn.
Yunjing
Y
Luo
Key Laboratory for Biomedical Effects of Nanomaterials and Nanosafety, Institute of High Energy Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China. wangyaling@ihep.ac.cn gaoxy@ihep.ac.cn.
Xueyun
http://orcid.org/0000-0002-2267-9945
X
Gao
D000818:Animals; D003287:Contrast Media; D005260:Female; D005682:Gadolinium; D006046:Gold; D006801:Humans; D007624:KB Cells; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D053768:Metal Nanoparticles; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed
D003287:Contrast Media; C030581:gadolinium oxide; D006046:Gold; D005682:Gadolinium