Theranostic gold cluster nanoassembly for simultaneous enhanced cancer imaging and photodynamic therapy

As one of near-infrared (NIR) fluorescent (FL) nanoprobes, gold nanoclusters (Au NCs) are delicated to passive-targeting tumors for NIR FL imaging, but which easily cleared by the kidneys for the small size (<1.5 nm). Herein, the well-defined gold clusters nanoassembly (Au CNA) was synthesized by the selfassembly of Au NCs based on protein cross-linking approach. The as-prepared Au CNA demonstrated highly effective cellular uptake and precise tumor targeting compared to that of Au NCs. Moreover, with the irradiation of 660 nm laser, Au CNA generated largely reactive oxygen species (ROS) for photodynamic therapy (PDT). In vitro and in vivo PDT revealed that Au CNA exhibited largely cell death and significantly tumor removal at a low power density of 0.2 W/cm². It could be speculated that the laser-excited Au CNA produced photon energy, which further obtained electron from oxygen to generate radical species. Therefore, Au CNA as a photosensitizer could realize NIR FL imaging and NIR laser induced PDT.     

~(64)Cu-NOTA-Herceptin的设计、活性测定及肿瘤靶向分子显像研究

利用双功能螯合剂2-[(4-异硫氰基苯基)甲基]-1,4,7-三氮杂环九烷-1,4,7-三乙酸(NCS-Bz-NOTA)对Herceptin单抗表面的氨基进行修饰获得了NOTA-Herceptin,通过基质辅助激光解吸电离飞行时间质谱(MALDI-TOF)对该偶联物进行了表征.利用酶联免疫吸附测定了偶联前后Herceptin抗体效价的改变.利用新型正电子核素~(64)Cu标记,获得可用于肿瘤放射靶向精准诊疗的~(64)Cu-NOTA-Herceptin探针,其标记率为90%,放化纯度98%,比活度185 MBq/nmol.分别进行了该探针在HER2过表达胃癌细胞NCI-N87及HER2低表达胃癌细胞BGC823等肿瘤细胞中的摄取实验,测定了该探针的肿瘤特异性.建立了荷人胃癌BGC823裸鼠模型,通过微型正电子断层显像(Micro-PET)设备观察了探针在模型动物体内的代谢情况:在静脉注射7.4 MBq~(64)Cu-NOTA-Herceptin探针后,分别于4和60 h进行正电子断层显像(PET)的显像,观察到其在肿瘤部位的摄取有所富集,且随着代谢时间的延长,肝脏部位摄取得到明显降低.研究结果表明,~(64)Cu-NOTAHerceptin探针有望应用于肿瘤放射性靶向诊疗.     

PEGylated WS2 nanosheets for X-ray computed tomography imaging and photothermal therapy

WS2 nanosheets were prepared by the solvent-thermal method in the presence of n-butyl lithium, then the exfoliation under the condition of ultrasound. The formed WS2 nanosheets were conjugated with thiol-modified polyethylene glycol (PEG-SH) to improve the biocompatibility. The nanosheets (WS2-PEG) were able to inhibit the growth of a model HeLa cancer cell line in vitro due to the high photothermal conversion efficiency of 35% irradiated by an 808 nm laser (1 W/cm2). As a proof of concept, WS2-PEG nanosheets with the better X-ray attenuation property than the clinical computed tomography (CT) contrast agent (Iohexol) could be performed for CT imaging of the lymph vessel.     

A novel, ultra sensible biosensor built by layer-by-layer covalent attachment of a receptor for diagnosis of tumor growth

In the presented research, a novel, ultra sensitive biosensor for the impedimetric detection of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) is introduced. The human vascular endothelial growth factor receptor 1 (VEGF-R1, Flt-1) was used as a biorecognition element for the first time. The immobilization of VEGF-R1 on glassy carbon electrodes was carried out using layer-by-layer covalent attachment of VEGF-R1. The electrochemical properties of the layers constructed on the electrodes were characterized by electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) and cyclic voltammetry (CV). The differences in electron transfer resistance (R_et) between the working solution and the biosensor surface, recorded by the redox probe K₃[Fe(CN)₆]/K₄[Fe(CN)₆], confirmed the binding of VEGF to VEGF-R1. The new biosensor allowed a detection limit of 100 fg mL⁻¹ with a linear range of 100–600 fg mL⁻¹ to be obtained. The biosensor also exhibited good repeatability (with a correlation coefficient of 1.95%), and reproducibility.     

Intracellularly grown gold nanoislands as SERS substrates for monitoring chromate,sulfate and nitrate localization sites in remediating bacteria biofilms by Raman chemical imaging

Understanding the chemical composition of biofilm matrices is vital in different fields of biology such as surgery, dental medicine, synthetic grafts and bioremediation. The knowledge of biofilm development, composition, active reduction sites and remediation efficacy will help in the development of effective solutions and evaluation of remediating approaches prior to implementation. Surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) based imaging is an invaluable tool to obtain an understanding of the remediating efficacy of microorganisms and its role in the formation of organic and inorganic compounds in biofilms. We demonstrate for the first time, the presence of chromate, sulfate, nitrate and reduced trivalent chromium in soil biofilms. In addition, we demonstrate that SERS imaging was able to validate two observations made by previous studies on chromate/sulfate and chromate/nitrate interactions in Shewanella oneidensis MR-1 biofilms. Additionally, we show a detailed Raman mapping based evidence of the existence of chromate–sulfate competition for cellular entry. Subsequently, we use Raman mapping to study the effect of nitrate on chromate reduction. The findings presented in this paper are among the first to report – detection of multiple metallic ions in bacterial biofilms using intracellular SERS substrates. Such a detailed characterization of biofilms using gold nanoislands based SERS mapping substrate can be extended to study cellular localization of other metallic ions and chemical species of biological and toxicological significance and their effect on reduction reactions in bacterial biofilms.     

Comparative imaging of P,S, Fe,Cu, Zn and C in thin sections of rat brain tumor as well as control tissues by laser ablation inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry

Laser ablation inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (LA-ICP-MS) was used for quantitative imaging of selected elements (P, S, Fe, Cu, Zn and C) in thin sections of rat brain samples (thickness 20 μm). The sample surface was scanned (raster area ~ 2 cm²) with a focused laser beam (wavelength 266 nm, diameter of laser crater 50 μm, and irradiance 1 × 10⁹ W cm^− 2). The laser ablation system was coupled to a double-focusing sector field. The possibility was evaluated of using carbon (via measurement of ¹³C⁺) as an internal standard element for imaging element distribution as part of this method. The LA-ICP-MS images obtained for P, S, Fe Cu and Zn were quantified using synthetically prepared matrix-matched laboratory standards. Depending on the sample analyzed, concentrations of Cu and Zn in the control tissue were found to be in the range of 8–10 μg g^− 1 and 10–12 μg g^− 1, while in the tumor tissue these concentrations were in the range of 12–15 μg g^− 1 and 15–17 μg g^− 1, respectively. The measurements of P, S and Fe distribution revealed the depletion of these elements in tumor tissue. In all the samples, the shape of the tumor could be clearly distinguished from the surrounding healthy tissue by the depletion in carbon. Additional experiments were performed in order to study the influence of the water content of the analyzed tissue on the intensity signal of the analyte. The results of these measurements show the linear correlation (R² = 0.9604) between the intensity of analyte and amount of water in the sample. The growth of a brain tumor was thus studied for the first time by imaging mass spectrometry.     

Ion pair-based dispersive liquid-liquid microextraction for gold determination at ppb level in solid samples after ultrasound-assisted extraction and in waters by electrothermal-atomic absorption spectrometry

A new methodology was developed for the determination of ultratrace levels of gold in water samples, soils and river sediments. Dispersive liquid-liquid microextraction was used to preconcentrate the ion pair formed between AuCl₄⁻ and [CH₃(CH₂)₃]₄N⁺ in a microliter-range volume of chlorobenzene using acetone as disperser solvent. When solid samples were analyzed, the method consisted of a combination of ultrasound-assisted extraction and dispersive liquid-liquid microextraction with final detection by electrothermal-atomic absorption spectrometry. Since an HCl medium was required for the formation of the AuCl₄⁻ complex, HCl together with HNO₃ was used as extractants for ultrasound-assisted extraction. After optimization, the enrichment factor obtained was 220 for water samples. Moreover, the extraction efficiency was around 96%. The repeatability, expressed as relative standard deviation ranged from 3.6% to 9.7%. The instrumental detection limit was 8.4 ng L⁻¹, whereas the procedural detection limits were 42 ng L⁻¹ for water samples and 1.5 ng g⁻¹ for environmental solid samples.     

A combined tryptic peptide and winged peptide internal standard approach for the determination of α‐lactalbumin in dairy products by ultra high performance liquid chromatography with tandem mass spectrometry

A robust ultra high performance liquid chromatography with tandem mass spectrometry method at peptide level was established for measuring α‐lactalbumin in various dairy products. An isotope‐labeled winged peptide (VKKILDKVG*I NYW*L AHKALCSEKL) with extra amino acids of the sequence of signature peptide concatenated at each end as the internal standard was spiked in samples to participate in the whole tryptic digestion process. The peptide VG*I NYW*L AHK that resulted from the isotope‐labeled winged peptide was used as the final isotopically labeled internal standard of the α‐lactalbumin signature peptide (VGINYWLAHK) during the quantitative analysis. The contents of α‐lactalbumin in samples were calculated based on the equimolar relationship between the α‐lactalbumin protein and signature peptide. The optimized molar ratio of trypsin to protein (1:60) and enzymatic digestion time (5 h) could not only improve the digestion efficiency and reduce the cost, but also minimize the period of sample pretreatment. Considering the robustness of the current method using the isotopically labeled internal standard and acceptable measurement cost, its application may promote the development of nutrient investigation and quality control of α‐lactalbumin in dairy products. This protein analysis method might provide a new reference strategy for food analysis and quantitative protein analysis.