[Nano-biocaptures for research and diagnostics in inflammation diseases and cancer]

As part of the ongoing search for ways to decrease the mortality of different pathological conditions related to cancer and inflammatory diseases, nanotechnologies currently under evaluation offer potentially attractive tools for innovative methodologies for early diagnosis, new bioimaging techniques and therapeutic strategies. Nano-tools can be employed for various functions, such as the detection of lesions at very early stages of disease development, extremely precise anatomical localization, or evaluation of the efficacy of medications specifically targeted against cells and pathological tissues. We have synthesized homogeneous CdSe/ZnS (core/shell) highly fluorescent nanocrystals (NC) detectable as individual nanoparticules with a routine fluorescent microscope. These NC are at least 10-fold brighter than the best organic fluorophores and at least 1000-fold more stable against photobleaching than AlexaFluor, for example. When conjugated with proteins, DNA or with drugs, NCs may be excited with the light of any wavelength from UV through visible spectral region providing a range of fluorescence colors depending on their diameter. These properties provide excellent perspectives for high through-put multiplexing and long-term tracking of labeled precursors for days or even weeks. We present here NC applications for ultrasensitive detection of p-glycoprotein, cytokeratins, LCA, Ki67, etc. both on the cellular level and in pathological human surgical specimens.