Mn(ii) silver-aptamer clusters for targeted MR imaging of tumors

Hypoxia-inducible factor (HIF) highly expressed in most of the cancer cells. The Mn(ii)-aptamer based nanoclusters with 3D structures would be HIF-aptamer based targeted magnetic resonance imaging agents for cancer MRI diagnosis. Herein, a new class of contrast agent Mn(ii) silver-aptamer clusters (AdpaMn@DNA-Ag-DNA_G1) were constructed based on the assembly of DNA-mediated Ag nanoclusters (DNA-AgNCs) with the Mn(ii) complex (AdpaMn) and DNA_G1, the recognition sequence of GLUT-1. Then, the Mn(ii) silver-aptamer clusters (AdpaMn@DNA-Ag-DNA_G1) are used as the MRI agents both in vitro and in vivo. The results show that the MRI signal is clearly presented in the tumor position. Consequently, the Mn(ii) silver-aptamer clusters can be used as a new class of contrast agents for targeted MR imaging of tumors.