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Tumor‐Targeted Multimodal Optical Imaging with Versatile Cadmium‐Free Quantum Dots
Author(s) -
Liu Xiangyou,
Braun Gary B.,
Zhong Haizheng,
Hall David J.,
Han Wenlong,
Qin Mingde,
Zhao Chuanzhen,
Wang Meina,
She ZhiGang,
Cao Chuanbao,
Sailor Michael J.,
Stallcup William B.,
Ruoslahti Erkki,
Sugahara Kazuki N.
Publication year - 2016
Publication title -
advanced functional materials
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 6.069
H-Index - 322
eISSN - 1616-3028
pISSN - 1616-301X
DOI - 10.1002/adfm.201503453
Subject(s) - quantum dot , materials science , nanotechnology , fluorescence , fluorescence lifetime imaging microscopy , conjugated system , translation (biology) , molecular imaging , chemistry , optics , biology , polymer , physics , biochemistry , microbiology and biotechnology , messenger rna , in vivo , composite material , gene
The rapid development of fluorescence imaging technologies requires concurrent improvements in the performance of fluorescent probes. Quantum dots have been extensively used as an imaging probe in various research areas because of their inherent advantages based on unique optical and electronic properties. However, their clinical translation has been limited by the potential toxicity especially from cadmium. Here, a versatile bioimaging probe is developed by using highly luminescent cadmium‐free CuInSe 2 /ZnS core/shell quantum dots conjugated with CGKRK (Cys–Gly–Lys–Arg–Lys) tumor‐targeting peptides. This probe exhibits excellent photostability, reasonably long circulation time, minimal toxicity, and strong tumor‐specific homing property. The most important feature of this probe is that it shows distinctive versatility in tumor‐targeted multimodal imaging including near‐infrared, time‐gated, and two‐photon imaging in different tumor models. In a glioblastoma mouse model, the targeted probe clearly denotes tumor boundaries and positively labels a population of diffusely infiltrating tumor cells, suggesting its utility in precise tumor detection during surgery. This work lays a foundation for potential clinical translation of the probe.