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Precisely Regulated Luminescent Gold Nanoparticles for Identification of Cancer Metastases
1Key Laboratory of Functional Molecular Engineering of Guangdong Province, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou 510640, China.
Abstract:
The nanoprobes for identification of cancer metastases in the mononuclear phagocyte system (MPS) organs are of significant importance but are limited due to the long-standing challenge of low tumor-targeting specificity with inadequate targeting efficiency and high nonspecific accumulation. Here, we report a surface regulation strategy that integrates the tumor-acidity-activated charge-reversal behavior and precise control in both hydrodynamic diameter (HD) and surface charge on ultrasmall luminescent gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) to achieve significantly high tumor-targeting specificity. The precise regulation of AuNPs to a rational HD and surface charge could rapidly and selectively recognize small metastatic tumors (∼1 mm) in liver and lung with high signal-to-noise ratios of 4.6 and 4.5, respectively. These results help further understand the in vivo transport of nanoprobes and provide guidance for design of translatable nanosized nanomedicines in cancer metastasis theranostics.
Insights
Researchers developed ultrasmall luminescent gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) that precisely target cancer metastases in liver and lung. This surface regulation strategy enhances tumor specificity and aids in early detection of small tumors.
Area of Science:
- Nanomedicine
- Biomedical Engineering
- Oncology
Background:
- Identifying cancer metastases in mononuclear phagocyte system (MPS) organs is crucial but hindered by low tumor-targeting specificity and high nonspecific accumulation of nanoprobes.
- Existing nanoprobes often struggle with inadequate targeting efficiency, leading to challenges in detecting small metastatic tumors.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop ultrasmall luminescent gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) with enhanced tumor-targeting specificity for identifying cancer metastases.
- To investigate a surface regulation strategy integrating tumor-acidity-activated charge-reversal behavior and precise control of nanoparticle properties.
Main Methods:
- Engineered ultrasmall luminescent gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) with controlled hydrodynamic diameter (HD) and surface charge.
- Integrated tumor-acidity-activated charge-reversal behavior into the AuNP surface.
- Evaluated the targeting specificity and efficiency of the modified AuNPs in detecting small metastatic tumors in vivo.
Main Results:
- Achieved significantly high tumor-targeting specificity with the surface-regulated AuNPs.
- Demonstrated rapid and selective recognition of small metastatic tumors (approximately 1 mm) in liver and lung.
- Obtained high signal-to-noise ratios of 4.6 in the liver and 4.5 in the lung, indicating effective tumor visualization.
Conclusions:
- The surface regulation strategy provides precise control over AuNP properties, leading to superior tumor-targeting specificity.
- This approach enables effective detection of small metastatic tumors, improving cancer metastasis theranostics.
- The findings offer valuable insights into the in vivo transport of nanoprobes and guide the design of translatable nanosized nanomedicines.
