Dopamine-mediated photothermal theranostics combined with up-conversion platform under near infrared light.

Abstract

An organic-inorganic hybrid core-shell nanostructure, based on mesoporous silica coated upconversion core-shell nanoparticles (NaGdF4:Yb,Er@NaGdF4:Yb@mSiO2-Dopa abbreviated here as UCNP@mSiO2-Dopa) that stably incorporates dopamine (Dopa) in the silica layer was introduced as a theranostic nanoplatform for optical imaging guided photothermal therapy (PTT) using NIR excitation. Silica-attaching polyethylenimine make the Dopa transforms into an active form (transferred Dopa) that strongly absorbs light under single 980 nm irradiation. We show that the activated UCNP@mSiO2-Dopa nanoplatform is able to produce a pronounced photothermal effect, that elevates water temperature from room temperature to 41.8 °C within 2 minutes, while concurrently emitting strong upconverted luminescence (UCL) for visualized guidance under 980 nm laser. In addition, we demonstrate the application of the same UCNP@mSiO2-Dopa nanoplatform for magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and x-ray computed tomography (CT) enabled by the gadolinium (Gd) element contained in the UCNP. Importantly, the in vitro and in vivo anti-cancer therapeutic effects have been shown efficacious, implying the use of the described nanoplatform as an effective multi-modal imaging enabled PTT agent. Results from the in vivo biodistribution of UCNPs@mSiO2, cellular live/dead assay, and histologic analysis of main organs of treated mice, reveal that the UCNP@mSiO2-Dopa agents are bio-compatible with low toxicity.

• Authors: Ruichan Lv, Piaoping Yang, Guanying Chen, Shili Gai, Jiating Xu, Paras N Prasad
• Journal: Scientific reports (Sci Rep) Vol. 7 Issue 1 Pg. 13562 (10 19 2017) ISSN: 2045-2322 [Electronic] England
• PMID: 29051529 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't, Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.)

Chemical References

• Biocompatible Materials
• Contrast Media
• Silicon Dioxide
• Gadolinium
• Dopamine

Topics

• Animals
• Biocompatible Materials (chemistry, therapeutic use)
• Cell Survival (drug effects)
• Contrast Media (chemistry)
• Dopamine (chemistry)
• Gadolinium (chemistry)
• HeLa Cells
• Humans
• Infrared Rays
• Magnetic Resonance Imaging
• Mice
• Mice, Inbred BALB C
• Nanostructures (chemistry)
• Neoplasms (diagnostic imaging, therapy)
• Phototherapy
• Silicon Dioxide (chemistry)
• Theranostic Nanomedicine
• Tissue Distribution
• Tomography, X-Ray Computed