1 3
Topics in Current Chemistry (2020) 378:35
To date, there have been only a few reports on successful specific targeting
employing Ag 2 S QDs [23]. In all such reportes, Ag 2 S NPs were surface functionalized with appropriate recognition elements for in vivo imaging following different
bioconjugation approaches. In a very recent study, Ag 2 S NPs were surface functionalized with plerixafor, a small molecule drug used for the inhibition of CXC
chemokine receptor 4 (CXCR4). The bioconjugate was used for in vivo imaging
of metastatic breast cancer cells based on the selective linkage of the functionalized Ag 2 S NPs to highly metastatic breast cancer cells (4T1 tumor model) via
their CXCR4 receptor [155]. Moreover, the use of the surface-decorated Ag 2 S NPs
together with their photothermal properties resulted in a unique and tumor-specific
theranostic element.
6.3 Multimodal Imaging
There is currently an increasing interest among researchers on the development of
new nanomaterials for multimodal imaging applications in biology and medicine. In
this context, multimodal fluorescent-magnetic based nanomaterials deserve particular attention as they can be used both as diagnostic and drug delivery tools, which
could facilitate the diagnosis and treatment of many diseases.
The frequently investigated QD-based hybrid-NPs with multiple capabilities are
probably the magnetic-QDs. As an example, differently sized infrared-emitting QDs
have been incorporated, together with variable amounts of Fe-based magnetic NPs,
into poly(styrene/acrylamide) copolymer nanospheres for the preparation of fluorescent-magnetic nanocomposites [156]. The dual-encoded nanobioprobes developed
as such exhibited different luminescent behavior (due to the different sizes of the
NPs) and magnetic susceptibility. They were proven to be capable of simultaneously
recognizing and separating multiple biocomponents from complex samples when
three kinds of lectins were used as the targets.
Multimodal imaging can integrate structural/functional information from several
imaging modalities, thus promising more accurate diagnosis than any single imaging modality. One important advantageous feature of liposome encapsulation is the
possibility to co-immobilize several NPs exhibiting different properties to develop
multimodal imaging platforms. In a very recent article, Xu et al. reported the integration of a theranostic liposome (QSC-Lip) with superparamagnetic iron oxide NPs
(SPIONs) and QDs and cilengitide (CGT) into one platform, with the aim to target glioma in magnetic targeting (MT) for guiding the surgical resection of glioma
[157]. In vivo dual-imaging studies show that QSC-Lip not only produces an obvious negative-contrast enhancement effect on glioma by MRI but also makes tumor
emitting fluorescence under MT.
Among the different techniques widely used for molecular imaging, MRI is
currently one of the main in vivo imaging techniques used routinely in diagnosis,
while fluorescence imaging is nowadays most widely used for in vitro studies; thus
these two imaging techniques are complementary. Clearly, there is much research
interest directed towards preparing fluorescent imaging/MRI imaging dual‐modality nanoprobes to be used in many diagnostic and biomedical applications, such
165
Reprinted from the journal
Topics in Current Chemistry (2020) 378:35
To date, there have been only a few reports on successful specific targeting
employing Ag 2 S QDs [23]. In all such reportes, Ag 2 S NPs were surface functionalized with appropriate recognition elements for in vivo imaging following different
bioconjugation approaches. In a very recent study, Ag 2 S NPs were surface functionalized with plerixafor, a small molecule drug used for the inhibition of CXC
chemokine receptor 4 (CXCR4). The bioconjugate was used for in vivo imaging
of metastatic breast cancer cells based on the selective linkage of the functionalized Ag 2 S NPs to highly metastatic breast cancer cells (4T1 tumor model) via
their CXCR4 receptor [155]. Moreover, the use of the surface-decorated Ag 2 S NPs
together with their photothermal properties resulted in a unique and tumor-specific
theranostic element.
6.3 Multimodal Imaging
There is currently an increasing interest among researchers on the development of
new nanomaterials for multimodal imaging applications in biology and medicine. In
this context, multimodal fluorescent-magnetic based nanomaterials deserve particular attention as they can be used both as diagnostic and drug delivery tools, which
could facilitate the diagnosis and treatment of many diseases.
The frequently investigated QD-based hybrid-NPs with multiple capabilities are
probably the magnetic-QDs. As an example, differently sized infrared-emitting QDs
have been incorporated, together with variable amounts of Fe-based magnetic NPs,
into poly(styrene/acrylamide) copolymer nanospheres for the preparation of fluorescent-magnetic nanocomposites [156]. The dual-encoded nanobioprobes developed
as such exhibited different luminescent behavior (due to the different sizes of the
NPs) and magnetic susceptibility. They were proven to be capable of simultaneously
recognizing and separating multiple biocomponents from complex samples when
three kinds of lectins were used as the targets.
Multimodal imaging can integrate structural/functional information from several
imaging modalities, thus promising more accurate diagnosis than any single imaging modality. One important advantageous feature of liposome encapsulation is the
possibility to co-immobilize several NPs exhibiting different properties to develop
multimodal imaging platforms. In a very recent article, Xu et al. reported the integration of a theranostic liposome (QSC-Lip) with superparamagnetic iron oxide NPs
(SPIONs) and QDs and cilengitide (CGT) into one platform, with the aim to target glioma in magnetic targeting (MT) for guiding the surgical resection of glioma
[157]. In vivo dual-imaging studies show that QSC-Lip not only produces an obvious negative-contrast enhancement effect on glioma by MRI but also makes tumor
emitting fluorescence under MT.
Among the different techniques widely used for molecular imaging, MRI is
currently one of the main in vivo imaging techniques used routinely in diagnosis,
while fluorescence imaging is nowadays most widely used for in vitro studies; thus
these two imaging techniques are complementary. Clearly, there is much research
interest directed towards preparing fluorescent imaging/MRI imaging dual‐modality nanoprobes to be used in many diagnostic and biomedical applications, such
165
Reprinted from the journal