A Sandwiched Biological Fluorescent Probe for the Diagnosis of Human Ovarian Tumor Based on TiO2 Nanoparticles

In this paper, we report a novel biological fluorescent probe for the diagnosis of human ovarian tumor based on sandwiched TiO₂ nanoparticles. The fluorescence nanoparticles consist of a fluorescent molecule, tetramethyl rhodamine isothiocyanate (TRITC), sandwiched between titanium dioxide (TiO₂) nanoparticles and nano-gold via reacting with each other. The antibodies HER2, labeled on the surface of the biofluorescence nanoparticles, have granted nanoparticles the privilege of aiming at peculiar tumor antigen. The specificity of antibody-nanoparticles interacting with cells was characterized by Laser Scanning Confocal Microscope. The results showed that these sandwiched nanoparticles were innocuous and stable, and the method offered potential advantages of sensitivity and simplicity due to high combing efficiency between nanoparticles and cells and provided an alternative method for the diagnosis of human ovarian tumor (HOT).     

SiO_2/Ag核壳结构纳米粒子的制备及其表面荧光增强

以罗丹明B掺杂的SiO2球为核,通过化学还原的方法制备了二氧化硅/银核壳结构复合纳米粒子。采用透射电镜(TEM)、紫外-可见-近红外(UV-Vis-NIR)分光光度计和荧光分光光度计对二氧化硅/银核壳结构纳米粒子的表面形貌、表面等离子共振和表面荧光增强特性进行了研究和表征。结果表明,二氧化硅/银核壳结构纳米粒子的表面等离子共振峰具有明显的可调谐性,且其表面荧光增强强烈依赖于银壳层的表面等离子共振,随银壳层厚度的增大而增强。     

丹酰氯SiO2纳米发光标记物的制备

通过合成丹酰氯的荧光单体硅酯前驱物,采用油包水的反相微乳液法,以丹酰氯的荧光单体硅酯前驱物为核材料,成功地制备了丹酰氯的荧光纳米颗粒,克服了传统方法制备核壳荧光纳米颗粒中存在的荧光染料泄漏问题.通过透射电子显微镜表征该纳米粒子呈球形,大小均匀,直径为40nm左右.所制得纳米颗粒荧光性质稳定,受外界环境的影响小,且潜在生物亲和性,是一种新型的荧光标记物.     

Targeted and Specific Modification with 4-Carboxybenzeneboronic Acid and TPGS of Fluorescent Gold Nanoparticles and the Enhanced Antitumor Activity Research

A targeting and specific fluorescent gold nanoparticle is prepared for tracing of drug and effective treatment of cancers. First, 4-carboxybenzeneboronic acid (CBPA) and D-α-tocopheryl polyethylene glycol 1000 succinate (TPGS) are used to modify cyclodextrins (CDs), then modified cyclodextrins and polyethylene glycol (PEG) are used to stabilize gold nanoclusters to prepare fluorescent gold nanoparticles (AuNCs@CD-TPGS-CBPA/PEG). CBPA has targeting and TPGS can induce apoptosis, therefore, AuNCs@CD-TPGS-CBPA/PEG has targeting and certain anti-tumor activity. The structure and morphology of the nanomaterial are characterized by using nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy and transmission electron microscope (TEM). Paclitaxel (PTX) is loaded into the hydrophobic cavity of CDs to form targeting specific drug-loaded fluorescent gold nanoparticles (AuNCs@CD-TPGS-CBPA/PEG/PTX). Biological performances of AuNCs@CD-TPGS-CBPA/PEG are studied by in vitro and in vivo experiments. In vitro test results confirm that AuNCs@CD-TPGS-CBPA/PEG could be internalized by tumor cells, and effectively against tumor cells, but it is biocompatible to normal cells. In vivo experiments prove that AuNCs@CD-TPGS-CBPA/PEG has excellent targeting, biocompatibility, and enhanced antitumor capability, could enrich and stay for a long time in the tumor regions, effectively prolong the lifetime of tumor-bearing mice. Therefore, this work provides an insight into the development of fluorescent gold nanomaterials for practical biomedical application.     

Preparation and Fluoroimmunoassay Application of New Red-Region Fluorescent Silica Nanoparticles

This is the first report on the preparation and utilization of a novel red-region fluorescent dye (tetracarboxy aluminum phthalocyanine) doped silica nanoparticles. In these nanoparticles, the tetracarboxy aluminum phthalocyanine molecules were covalently bound to silica matrix to protect the dye leaking from nanoparticles in bio-applications. The surface of the nanoparticles was modified by amino groups and easily bioconjugated with goat anti-human IgG antibody. By employing these nanoparticles as fluorescent probe, a sensitive fluoroimmunoassay method has been developed for the determination of trace level of human IgG. The calibration graph for human IgG was linear over the range of 0–500 ng mL⁻¹ with a detection limit of 1.6 ng mL⁻¹. Compared with the corresponding system using free AlC₄Pc as a probe for determining human IgG, the sensitivity of the proposed system was notably increased. The method was applied to the analysis of human IgG in human sera with satisfactory results.     

Bioconjugated Fluorescent Polymeric Nanoparticles for Imaging and Targeted Therapy of HER2-Overexpressing Cancer Cells

We report the development of Herceptin-conjugated fluorescent polymeric nanoparticles (PNp) probes. Synthesis of fluorescent conjugated polymer as the core, preparation of the core/shell PNp, the ability of immobilizing Herceptin on PNp, targeting and imaging of bioconjugated PNp toward HER2-overexpressing cancer cells, and therapeutic effect on cell cycle, together with the expression of apoptosis related proteins, were investigated. We have achieved active tumor targeting by rapid PNp-antibody binding to tumor-specific antigens. Besides, Herceptin-conjugated PNp can suppress the growth of HER2-overexpressing cancer cells.     

Preparation,Characterization and Application of Fluorescent Terbium Complex-Doped Zirconia Nanoparticles

Novel zirconia-based fluorescent terbium nanoparticles have been prepared as a fluorescent nanoprobe for time-resolved fluorescence bioassay. The nanoparticles were prepared in a water-in-oil (W/O) microemulsion consisting of a strongly fluorescent Tb³⁺ complex, N,N,N¹, N¹-[2,6-bis(3′-aminomethyl-1′-pyrazolyl)-phenylpyridine]tetrakis(acetate)-Tb³⁺(BPTA-Tb³⁺), Triton X-100, hexanol, and cyclohexane by controlling co-condensation of Zr(OCH₂CH₃)₄ and ZrOCl_2. The characterizations by transmission electron microscopy and fluorometric methods indicate that the nanoparticles are uniform in size, 33± 4 nm in diameter, and have a fluorescence quantum yield of 8.9% and a long fluorescence lifetime of 2.0 ms. The zirconia-based fluorescent terbium nanoparticles show high stability against basic dissolution in a high pH aqueous buffer compared to the silica-based nanoparticles. A surface modification and bioconjugation method for the fluorescent nanoparticles was developed, and the nanoparticle-conjugated streptavidin (SA) was used for time-resolved floroimmunoassy (TR-FIA) of human prostate specific antigen (PSA). The result shows that the zirconia-based fluorescent terbium nanoparticles are useful as a fluorescent nanoprobe for time-resolved fluorescence bioassay.     

NaYF_4∶Yb,Er上转换荧光纳米颗粒的共沉淀法合成及表征

以二乙二胺五乙酸(DTPA)为络合剂,采用共沉淀法合成了单分散的NaYF_4:Yb,Er上转换荧光纳米颗粒.通过X射线衍射(XRD)、透射电子显微镜(TEM)、荧光(FL)光谱、热重-差示扫描量热分析(TG-DSC)对合成的样品进行了表征.所合成纳米颗粒的粒径均一,通过改变络合剂DTPA的用最可使颗粒的平均粒径在20～120 nm范围内可调.纳米颗粒经煅烧后发生了由立方品型向六方晶型的转变,并伴随着荧光强度的大幅提升.还探讨了络合剂DTPA的用量、煅烧温度对纳米颗粒粒径、晶型及荧光性能的影响.研究结果表明:络合剂DTPA的加入虽然在一定程度上阻碍纳米颗粒由立方晶型向六方晶型的转变,但可获得单分散的小粒径纳米颗粒,其荧光强度仍能满足生物标记的要求.     

Synthesis of Fluorescent Silica Nanoparticles and Their Applications as Fluorescence Probes

This paper presents the synthesis of organic dye molecules embedded silica nanoparticles by Stöber method and their applications as fluorescence probes in cell imaging. By modifying the surface of fluorescent silica nanoparticles (FSNs) with amino, biologically functionalized and monodisperse FSNs can be obtained. In this work, FSNs were conjugated with monoclonal anti-Carcinoembryonic Antigen (anti-CEA) antibody via covalent binding. The antibody-conjugated FSNs can be used to label the SPCA-1 cells successfully, demonstrating that the application of FSNs as fluorescence probes in fluorescence imaging and bioassay would be feasible.     

A correlative optical microscopy and scanning electron microscopy approach to locating nanoparticles in brain tumors

The growing use of nanoparticles in biomedical applications, including cancer diagnosis and treatment, demands the capability to exactly locate them within complex biological systems. In this work a correlative optical and scanning electron microscopy technique was developed to locate and observe multi-modal gold core nanoparticle accumulation in brain tumor models. Entire brain sections from mice containing orthotopic brain tumors injected intravenously with nanoparticles were imaged using both optical microscopy to identify the brain tumor, and scanning electron microscopy to identify the individual nanoparticles. Gold-based nanoparticles were readily identified in the scanning electron microscope using backscattered electron imaging as bright spots against a darker background. This information was then correlated to determine the exact location of the nanoparticles within the brain tissue. The nanoparticles were located only in areas that contained tumor cells, and not in the surrounding healthy brain tissue. This correlative technique provides a powerful method to relate the macro- and micro-scale features visible in light microscopy with the nanoscale features resolvable in scanning electron microscopy.     

Functionalized Ultrabright Fluorescent Mesoporous Silica Nanoparticles

The problem of functionalization of recently reported ultrabright fluorescent mesoporous silica nanoparticles while preserving their fluorescent brightness is solved. This is a serious issue because of the open geometry of mesoporous channels and physical encapsulation of fluorescent dye inside those channels. Amine modification of mesoporous nanoparticles is described to preserve the brightness comparable to that of earlier reported ultrabright silica nanoparticles. Scaling to 40 nm sized particles, amine‐functionalized nanoparticle have fluorescent brightness equivalent to the one of 630 free rhodamine 6G (R6G) dye molecules in water. To demonstrate further most challenging functionalization, which relies on using organic‐solvent‐based chemistry, folic acid conjugation is developed. Two different methods are used to conjugate folites to the amine functionalities. Both methods result in a decrease of fluorescence intensity, which can nonetheless still be called ultrabright. The brightness can drop to either 310 or 80 R6G dye molecules per particle of nominal diameter of 40 nm.     

掺杂4-苯基卟啉的聚苯乙烯／二氧化硅复合纳米微球的制备

采用溶胶-凝胶法,首先利用苯乙烯与3-甲基丙烯酰氧基丙基三甲氧基硅烷(KH-570)化学反应合成共聚前驱物,利用TEOS在一定的条件下水解与缩合,一步合成了有机-无机复合纳米微球。用扫描电镜、红外光谱对共聚物及复合纳米粒子进行了表征。将非水溶性发光材料四苯基卟啉掺杂其中,制备出荧光复合纳米粒子。该粒子表现出了良好的发光性能,染料泄漏与猝灭几乎为零,可以作为一种新型的高效率的生物标记材料。     

缩合法合成磁性荧光高分子CdTe@Fe_3O_4/P(NIPAM-co-AA)复合微球及其表征

具有超顺磁性和荧光特性的CdTe@Fe_3O_4/P(NIPAM-co-AA)多功能复合微球是以P(NIPAMco-AA)为模板制备而成.首先,采用溶胀法使模板微球带有磁性;其次,辅助TEOS和APTES两种化学试剂实现对Fe_3O_4/P(NIPAM-co-AA)微球表面的氨基功能化;最后,携带氨基的磁性微球与巯基乙酸修饰的CdTe量子点通过酰胺缩合反应,将量子点键合到磁性微球表面上,最终获得单分散的磁性荧光高分子复合微球.分别采用扫描电子显微镜、透射电子显微镜、倒置荧光显微成像系统、荧光分光光度计以及振动样品磁强计等方法对所获复合材料的结构与性能进行了表征.结果表明:复合微球单分散性良好,平均粒径约为30μm,饱和磁化强度可达5.4emu/g,具有良好的超顺磁性和较高的荧光发光效率.该材料将磁性、荧光结合到微米级高分子共聚物上,不仅解决了纳米粒子分离和处理的困难,而且奠定了多功能材料在生物标记、荧光成像等诸多领域潜在的应用基础.     

Study of Au-Pd core-shell nanoparticles by using slow positron beam

Binary Au-Pd nanoparticles were synthesized by ultrasonic irradiation of solutions containing Au³⁺ and Pd²⁺ ions (the ion ratio from 0.3:0.7 to 0.9:0.1 mM) and cationic surfactant (SDS: sodium dodecyl sulfate). In each case the core-shell structure (Au core, Pd shell) was confirmed by scanning transmission electron microscopy (STEM). The mean diameters of them were all about 9 nm, and the thickness of the Pd shell depends on the ratio of Pd²⁺ and Au³⁺ ions in solution. In order to study the electronic states of core-shell nanoparticles and their dependence on shell thickness, Doppler broadening measurements were performed for Au-Pd core-shell nanoparticles by using slow positron beam technique. The ratio curves of Au-Pd particles did not match with those of pure Pd and pure Au, but a small difference in the low electron momentum region was observed among nanoparticles depending on Pd shell thickness.     

Obviously Enhanced Fluorescent Signal of Core-Shell Nanostructures through Simultaneous Regulation of Spectral Overlap and Shell Thickness for Imaging and Photothermal Therapy of Ovarian Cancer Cells

In this research, by simultaneously regulating the two major factors affecting the plasmonic enhanced fluorescence (PEF), spectral overlap and the distance between the fluororophores and the noble metal nanoparticles, a significantly enhanced fluorescent signal is achieved. Core-shell nanostructures composed of aspect ratio (AR) adjustable gold nanorods (GNRs) and various thickness of SiO₂ are prepared and the decorated fluorophores are realized optimized PEF. A typical stimuli-responsive conjugated polymer, polydiacetylene (PDA), and a near-infrared (NIR) dye Cy5.5 are selected as fluorophores and their fluorescent signal are enhanced 7.26 and 4.41 times, respectively. Based on the optimized optical properties, a multifunctional antibody modified Mab-Cy5.5-GNRs@SiO₂ is successfully demonstrated the targeting, imaging, and photothermal therapy (PTT) effects on SKOV-3 ovarian cancer cells.     

Color-tunable magnetic and luminescent hybrid nanoparticles: Synthesis, optical and magnetic properties

A facile method for synthesizing color-tunable magnetic and luminescent hybrid bifunctional nanoparticles is presented. A series of CdSe/ZnS core-shell quantum dots (QDs) with different sizes were successfully fabricated and self-assembled to Fe₃O₄ magnetic nanoparticles (MNP), which were subsequently coated with a polyethyleneimine (PEI) layer to prevent large aggregates. The hydrophobic QDs capped with trioctylphosphine oxide (TOPO) formed a coating surrounding MNP, and were transferred into hydrophilic phase by PEI with high efficiency. The samples were characterized by TEM, FT-IR, XRD, EDS, UV-vis spectrophotometer, fluorescent spectrophotometer and PPMS. Results show that the original properties of the nanoparticles were well-preserved in the hybrid structure. All MNP-QDs hybrid nanoparticles showed paramagnetic behavior and the nanocomposites were still highly luminescent with no shift in the PL peak position.     

聚电解质包覆的铕(Ⅲ)配合物@SiO2荧光纳米粒的合成与性质

以二苯甲酰甲烷(DBM)、邻菲罗琳(phen)和丙烯酸(AA)为配体,制备了铕的配合物Eu(Ⅲ)(DBM)2-(phen)(AA).利用St(o)ber法合成了SiO2纳米粒.通过超声辅助,将脂溶性的强荧光铕配合物吸附到SiO2纳米粒上,再包覆阳离子聚电解质聚二烯丙基二甲基氯化铵(PDAC)和阴离子聚电解质聚丙烯酸(P...     

Synthesis and characterization of ZnO-Ag core-shell nanocomposites with uniform thin silver layers

This paper presents an investigation on the synthesis and characterization of ZnO-Ag core-shell nanocomposites. ZnO nanorods were employed as core material for Ag seeds, and subsequent nucleation and growth of reduced Ag by formaldehyde formed the ZnO-Ag core-shell nanocomposites. The ZnO-Ag nanocomposites were annealed at different temperature to improve the crystallinity and binding strength of Ag nanoparticles. The morphology, microstructure and optical properties of the ZnO-Ag core-shell nanocomposites were characterized by X-ray diffraction, field emission scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, ultraviolet-visible (UV-vis) absorption and photoluminescence measurement. It was demonstrated that very small face-center-cubic Ag nanoparticles were coated on the surface of ZnO nanorods. The ultraviolet absorption and surface plasmon absorption band of ZnO-Ag core-shell nanocomposites exhibited some redshifts relative to pure ZnO nanorods and monometallic Ag nanoparticles. The coating of Ag nanocrystals onto the ZnO nanorods completely quenched the photoluminescence. These observations reflected the strong interfacial interaction between ZnO nanorods and Ag nanoparticles. The effect of Ag coating thickness on the morphology and optical properties of ZnO-Ag core-shell nanocomposites was also investigated. Moreover, the growth mechanism of ZnO-Ag core-shell nanocomposites was also proposed and discussed in detail.     

Fluorescent photoswitchable nanohybrids based on photochromism

A new type of fluorescent photoswitchable nanohybrids based on photochromism has been assembled, in which hydrophobic diarylethene and matched fluorescent dye are assembled in the nanoscale crosslinked polymeric matrix via a modified miniemulsion polymerization process and a seeded polymerization technique. The nanohybrids exhibited excellent fluorescent photoswitchable action owing to efficient photoinduced energy transfer whether the nanohybrids as nanoparticles dispersed in water or in a polymer film, and the improved photo-thermal stability of both essential components could be readily achieved. Importantly, our assembling approach is much simpler than the covalent chemical synthesis, and is a general method for other hydrophobic photochromic compounds.     

Facile method for CLSM imaging unfunctionalized Au nanoparticles through fluorescent channels

The microscopic visualization of metal nanoparticles has become a useful tool for the investigation of their applications in cell labeling and the study of their bio-effects. In the current study, we have developed a facile method with confocal laser scanning microscope (CLSM) to observe unfunctionalized Au nanoparticles through fluorescent channels. The sharp reflected signal and photostable property of the metal nanoparticles makes the present method very ideal for fluorescent co-localization, real-time imaging, and further quantitative analysis. Electronic supplementary material  The online version of this article (doi:) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users. Lan Yuan and Wei Wei contributed equally to this study.