Quantum Dot−Aptamer Conjugates for Synchronous Cancer Imaging, Therapy, and Sensing of Drug Delivery Based on Bi-Fluorescence Resonance Energy Transfer

Citations Over TimeTop 1% of 2007 papers

Abstract

We report a novel quantum dot (QD)-aptamer(Apt)-doxorubicin (Dox) conjugate [QD-Apt(Dox)] as a targeted cancer imaging, therapy, and sensing system. By functionalizing the surface of fluorescent QD with the A10 RNA aptamer, which recognizes the extracellular domain of the prostate specific membrane antigen (PSMA), we developed a targeted QD imaging system (QD-Apt) that is capable of differential uptake and imaging of prostate cancer cells that express the PSMA protein. The intercalation of Dox, a widely used antineoplastic anthracycline drug with fluorescent properties, in the double-stranded stem of the A10 aptamer results in a targeted QD-Apt(Dox) conjugate with reversible self-quenching properties based on a Bi-FRET mechanism. A donor-acceptor model fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET) between QD and Dox and a donor-quencher model FRET between Dox and aptamer result when Dox intercalated within the A10 aptamer. This simple multifunctional nanoparticle system can deliver Dox to the targeted prostate cancer cells and sense the delivery of Dox by activating the fluorescence of QD, which concurrently images the cancer cells. We demonstrate the specificity and sensitivity of this nanoparticle conjugate as a cancer imaging, therapy and sensing system in vitro.

Related Papers

• → In vivo Fluorescence Imaging of Tumors using Molecular Aptamers Generated by Cell‐SELEX(2010)104 cited
• → Radiolabeling of Nucleic Acid Aptamers for Highly Sensitive Disease-Specific Molecular Imaging(2018)27 cited
• → Physiological fluorescence lifetime imaging microscopy improves Forster resonance energy transfer detection in living cells(2009)16 cited
• → A Feasible Add-On Upgrade on a Commercial Two-Photon FLIM Microscope for Optimal FLIM-FRET Imaging of CFP-YFP Pairs(2013)3 cited
• → Fluorescence Resonance Energy Transfer (FRET) and Fluorescence Lifetime Imaging Microscopy (FLIM)(2006)6 cited