Issue 7, 2022

Magnetic and near-infrared-II fluorescence Au–Gd nanoclusters for imaging-guided sensitization of tumor radiotherapy

Abstract

The significant role of multifunctional nanoprobes with complementary advantages in magnetic and near-infrared-II (NIR-II, 1000–1700 nm) fluorescence properties has been documented in precision cancer theranostics. However, certain limitations, including the large size (>10 nm), low NIR-II fluorescence quantum yield (QY < 1.0%), and inefficient magnetic performance (relaxation rate < 5.0 s−1 mM−1) of nanoprobes, restrict their biomedical applications and clinical translation. Albumin-based biomineralization was adopted to prepare bright NIR-II Au NCs, which were further conjugated with DTPA and Gd ions to produce magnetic and NIR-II Au–Gd NCs. Albumin-based biomineralization helped to develop ultrasmall Au–Gd nanoclusters with ultrasmall size (∼2 nm), high NIR-II fluorescence QY (∼3.0%), and effective magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) performance (relaxation rate (r1) = 22.6 s−1 mM−1). On the one hand, Au–Gd NCs achieved NIR-II fluorescence and MRI dual-modal imaging of tumors with a high signal-to-background ratio (SBR = 8.2) in mice. On the other hand, their effective metabolism simultaneously through the kidney and liver minimized their toxicity in vivo. Moreover, compared to the control group, the survival time of tumor-bearing mice was extended by three times when Au–Gd NCs with high-Z elements were used to perform dual-modal imaging-guided sensitization of tumor radiotherapy. Thus, ultrasmall nanoprobes with complementary imaging modalities and therapeutic functions manifest great potential in cancer precision diagnosis and therapy.

Graphical abstract: Magnetic and near-infrared-II fluorescence Au–Gd nanoclusters for imaging-guided sensitization of tumor radiotherapy

Supplementary files

Article information

Article type
Paper
Submitted
19 jan 2022
Accepted
28 feb 2022
First published
02 mar 2022
This article is Open Access
Creative Commons BY-NC license

Nanoscale Adv., 2022,4, 1815-1826

Magnetic and near-infrared-II fluorescence Au–Gd nanoclusters for imaging-guided sensitization of tumor radiotherapy

H. Zhao, H. Wang, H. Li, T. Zhang, J. Zhang, W. Guo, K. Fu and G. Du, Nanoscale Adv., 2022, 4, 1815 DOI: 10.1039/D2NA00044J

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