Biologically inspired bimodal imaging agent incorporating quantum dots and magnetic nanoparticles targeting tumor angiogenesis

IF 2.6 4区材料科学 Q3 CHEMISTRY, MULTIDISCIPLINARY

Journal of Nanoparticle Research Pub Date : 2026-04-29 DOI:10.1007/s11051-026-06648-4

Qi Guo, Menglin Wu, Jiang Li, Guoping Xu, Xinhong Wu, Xiudi Lu, Xunxiao Zhao, Guilai Li, Xuening Zhang, Xue Li, Yang Zhao

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引用次数: 0

Abstract

Angiogenesis is an early marker of tumor growth, and a key process that promotes tumor growth, progression and metastasis. Accurate and early evaluation of tumor angiogenic activity using non-invasive imaging modalities is crucial for tumor diagnosis, therapeutic monitoring, and prognosis prediction. In this study, we reported a sensitive, specific, and biocompatible magnetic resonance (MR)/ fluorescence (FL) bimodal contrast agent for targeting aminopeptidase-N (APN/CD13) overexpressed in tumor angiogenesis. The obtained cNpQDs exhibited potent T1-weighted imaging capabilities (r₁ = 11.1081 mM⁻¹·s⁻¹) and effective photoluminescence emission. The CD13 binding affinity of the peptide cNGR was evaluated using a HUVEC cell-based receptor binding test, in which the internalization rate of cNpQDs was 10.17 times higher than that of pQDs. Furthermore, in vivo experiments indicated that MR/FL imaging of cNpQDs significantly enhanced the contrast of tumor angiogenesis. Biocompatibility studies provide evidence that cNpQDs has no obvious toxicity in vivo. These findings indicated that cNpQDs may serve as an efficiency MR/FL bimodal contrast agent, offering a potential alternative for assessing tumor angiogenesis.

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结合量子点和磁性纳米颗粒靶向肿瘤血管生成的生物启发双峰显像剂

血管生成是肿瘤生长的早期标志，是促进肿瘤生长、进展和转移的关键过程。使用非侵入性成像方式准确和早期评估肿瘤血管生成活性对肿瘤诊断、治疗监测和预后预测至关重要。在这项研究中，我们报道了一种敏感，特异性和生物相容性的磁共振(MR)/荧光（FL）双峰对比剂，用于靶向肿瘤血管生成中过表达的氨基肽酶- n （APN/CD13）。获得的cNpQDs具有强大的t1加权成像能力（r1 = 11.1081 mM−1·s−1）和有效的光致发光发射。利用基于HUVEC细胞的受体结合试验评估了cNGR肽的CD13结合亲和力，其中cNpQDs的内化率是pQDs的10.17倍。此外，体内实验表明，cNpQDs的MR/FL成像显著增强了肿瘤血管生成的对比。生物相容性研究表明，cNpQDs在体内无明显毒性。这些发现表明cNpQDs可能作为一种高效的MR/FL双峰造影剂，为评估肿瘤血管生成提供了一种潜在的替代方法。

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来源期刊

Journal of Nanoparticle Research 工程技术-材料科学：综合

CiteScore

4.40

自引率

4.00%

发文量

198

审稿时长

3.9 months

期刊介绍： The objective of the Journal of Nanoparticle Research is to disseminate knowledge of the physical, chemical and biological phenomena and processes in structures that have at least one lengthscale ranging from molecular to approximately 100 nm (or submicron in some situations), and exhibit improved and novel properties that are a direct result of their small size. Nanoparticle research is a key component of nanoscience, nanoengineering and nanotechnology. The focus of the Journal is on the specific concepts, properties, phenomena, and processes related to particles, tubes, layers, macromolecules, clusters and other finite structures of the nanoscale size range. Synthesis, assembly, transport, reactivity, and stability of such structures are considered. Development of in-situ and ex-situ instrumentation for characterization of nanoparticles and their interfaces should be based on new principles for probing properties and phenomena not well understood at the nanometer scale. Modeling and simulation may include atom-based quantum mechanics; molecular dynamics; single-particle, multi-body and continuum based models; fractals; other methods suitable for modeling particle synthesis, assembling and interaction processes. Realization and application of systems, structures and devices with novel functions obtained via precursor nanoparticles is emphasized. Approaches may include gas-, liquid-, solid-, and vacuum-based processes, size reduction, chemical- and bio-self assembly. Contributions include utilization of nanoparticle systems for enhancing a phenomenon or process and particle assembling into hierarchical structures, as well as formulation and the administration of drugs. Synergistic approaches originating from different disciplines and technologies, and interaction between the research providers and users in this field, are encouraged.