A Potential Multifunctional Nano-platform Based-on Compact Alloyed Quantum Rods for in vivo Multimodal Imaging

Apr 25, 2014     Email"> PrintText Size

Challenges in diagnostic imaging have led to an explosion of interest in combining modalities to more accurately interpret disease and abnormalities in vivo. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and near-infrard optical imaging (NIRF) are highly complementary imaging techniques. Combining these methods would therefore have significant advantages and may be realized through the use of nanomaterials. Semiconductor nanocrystals (NCs) have emerged as an important class of nanomaterials because of their tunable optoelectronic properties that arise from size, shape and composition. More recently, the rod architecture also known as quantum rod (QR defined as aspect ratio < 20) has been achieved. Such QRs display the transition from zero-dimensional quantum dots (QDs) to one-dimensional quantum wires (aspect ratio ≥20) in the sense that the length becomes a weakly confined axis.

Schematic Illustration of the Multifunctional Quantum Rods for Multimodal Imaging (Image by SIAT)

Based on the previous research progresses on NIR-Quantum Dots synthesis and modification (Nanoscale, 2011,3, 4724-4732, J. Am. Chem. Soc., 2012, 134 (20), 8388–8391. ), GAO Duyang and ZHANG Pengfei from CAI Lintao group have developed a reliable synthetic approach for CdTe_xSe_1-x/ZnS alloy nanocrystals to achieve highly bright (quantum yields up to 80%) with controllable rod-shape and near-infrared (650-870 nm) emission. For the advantage of combing optical imaging and MRI, paramagnetic Gd³⁺, MRI contrast agent that is commercial available and clinical implementary, was then conjugated to the

surface of QRs by the interaction between metal ions and the high-density ligands to produce dual-modal QRs. The dual modal nanostructure was applied for in vivo fluorescence and magnetic resonance lymph node imaging. Moreover, other functional ions may also be assembled with the QRs, through which a potential nano-platform for designing multifunctional nanostructure was supplied.

The research results have been recently published online on April 1 in Advanced Functional Materials. The presented research was financially supported by the National Basic Research Program of China (973 Program), the National Natural Science Foundation of China, the Science and Technology Foundation of Guangdong Province of China, Guangdong Innovation Reasearch Team of Low-cost Healthcare, Shenzhen Science and Technology Program and SIAT Innovation Program for Excellent Young Researchers.

The research group, led by Prof. CAI Lintao, carries out world leading research on a range of biomedical nanotechnology including studying multifunctional and nanostructured composite materials, providing highly sensitive and selective detection method through molecular probes for medical imaging and molecular diagnosis in nanoscale and single molecular level, exploring new device concepts and self-assembly techniques for the development of biomedical nanodevices and sensors for biosensing, environmental monitoring, information processing, energy utility and other applications.

 

Contact:
CAI Lintao
Ph.D., Professor
Institute of Biomedicine and Biotechnology
Shenzhen Institutes of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences
Shenzhen 518055, Guangdong (P. R. China)
Telephone: +86-755-86392210　 E-mail: lt.cai@siat.ac.cn