Aptamer-Directed Specific Drug Delivery and Magnetic Resonance Imaging of Renal Carcinoma Cells In Vitro and In Vivo

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) with high spatial resolution has been widely used in clinics as a noninvasive diagnostic technology, and MRI diagnosis-based theranostic nanomaterials have attracted increasing attention. Herein, we report on the fabrication of a GO/BSA-Gd2O3/AS1411-DOX theranostic nanocomplex with BSA-Gd2O3 nanoparticles for use as an MRI contrast agent (CA), with graphene oxide (GO) nanoplates as the CA and drug nanocarrier, as well as an aptamer, AS1411, as the targeting molecule. The proposed theranostic nanocomplex not only provided stronger MR contrast enhancement but also inhibited the growth of 786-0 human renal carcinoma cells with the help of the AS1411 aptamer, while sparing the normal cells from harm, thus demonstrating their specific drug delivery capability. Additionally, 786-0 cells could be specifically recognized using the GO/BSA-Gd2O3/AS1411-DOX theranostic nanocomplex with MRI both in vitro and in vivo. Notably, most of the nanocomplex that was injected into the tail vein was excreted by the kidneys and bladder, while MRI signals from the nanocomplexes that accumulated specifically in the tumor region could remain as long as 24 hours, which is beneficial for future clinical diagnosis and therapy.