Multifunctional Nanoprobe Based on Fluorescence Resonance Energy Transfer for Furin Detection and Drug Delivery

Triple-negative breast cancer is particularly difficult to treat because of its high degree of malignancy and poor prognosis. A fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET) nanoplatform plays a very important role in disease diagnosis and treatment due to its unique detection performance. Combining the properties of agglomeration-induced emission fluorophore and FRET pair, a FRET nanoprobe (HMSN/DOX/RVRR/PAMAM/TPE) induced by specific cleavage was designed. First, hollow mesoporous silica nanoparticles (HMSNs) were used as drug carriers to load doxorubicin (DOX). HMSN nanopores were coated with the RVRR peptide. Then, polyamylamine/phenylethane (PAMAM/TPE) was combined in the outermost layer. When Furin cut off the RVRR peptide, DOX was released and adhered to PAMAM/TPE. Finally, the TPE/DOX FRET pair was constituted. The overexpression of Furin in the triple-negative breast cancer cell line (MDA-MB-468 cell) can be quantitatively detected by FRET signal generation, so as to monitor cell physiology. In conclusion, the HMSN/DOX/RVRR/PAMAM/TPE nanoprobes were designed to provide a new idea for the quantitative detection of Furin and drug delivery, which is conducive to the early diagnosis and treatment of triple-negative breast cancer.