Cancer-Microenvironment-Sensitive Activatable Quantum Dot Probe in the Second Near-Infrared Window

Recent technological advances have expanded fluorescence (FL) imaging into the second near-infrared region (NIR-II; wavelength = 1000–1700 nm), providing high spatial resolution through deep tissues. However, bright and compact fluorophores are rare in this region, and sophisticated control over NIR...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Nano letters 2017-03, Vol.17 (3), p.1378-1386
Main Authors: Jeong, Sanghwa, Song, Jaejung, Lee, Wonseok, Ryu, Yeon Mi, Jung, Yebin, Kim, Sang-Yeob, Kim, Kangwook, Hong, Seong Cheol, Myung, Seung Jae, Kim, Sungjee
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Activation
Cancer
Chemical compounds
Fluorescence
Imaging
Modulators
Quantum dots
Tumors
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Summary:Recent technological advances have expanded fluorescence (FL) imaging into the second near-infrared region (NIR-II; wavelength = 1000–1700 nm), providing high spatial resolution through deep tissues. However, bright and compact fluorophores are rare in this region, and sophisticated control over NIR-II probes has not been fully achieved yet. Herein, we report an enzyme-activatable NIR-II probe that exhibits FL upon matrix metalloprotease activity in tumor microenvironment. Bright and stable PbS/CdS/ZnS core/shell/shell quantum dots (QDs) were synthesized as a model NIR-II fluorophore, and activatable modulators were attached to exploit photoexcited electron transfer (PET) quenching. The quasi type-II QD band alignment allowed rapid and effective FL modulations with the compact surface ligand modulator that contains methylene blue PET quencher. The modulator was optimized to afford full enzyme accessibility and high activation signal surge upon the enzyme activity. Using a colon cancer mouse model, the probe demonstrated selective FL activation at tumor sites with 3-fold signal enhancement in 10 min. Optical phantom experiments confirmed the advantages of the NIR-II probe over conventional dyes in the first near-infrared region.
ISSN:1530-6984
1530-6992
DOI:10.1021/acs.nanolett.6b04261