Mesoporous NaYbF4@NaGdF4 core-shell up-conversion nanoparticles for targeted drug delivery and multimodal imaging

Biomaterials. 2014 Aug;35(26):7666-78. doi: 10.1016/j.biomaterials.2014.05.051. Epub 2014 Jun 11.

Abstract

We developed a facile strategy to obtain a new kind of mesoporous core-shell structured up-conversion nanoparticles (mUCNPs), composed of a NaYbF4:2%Er core and a mesoporous NaGdF4 shell. This mesoporous shell not only enhanced the up-conversion luminescence but also endowed many other functionalities of the nanoparticles such as drug delivery and bio-imaging capabilities. Moreover, after being conjugated with polyethylenimine (PEI) and folic acid (FA), core-shell mUCNPs exhibited good water dispersibility, enhanced drug delivery efficiency, and remarkable targeting ability to cancer cells. To certify the folate receptors (FR)-mediated targeted drug delivery, cell viability assay, cell up-conversion luminescence imaging and flow cytometry analysis were carried out. Furthermore, apart from the application for targeted drug delivery, the as-prepared core-shell mUCNPs could also be employed as the contrast agents for X-ray computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance (MR) imaging, because of the strong X-ray attenuation ability of Yb and high longitudinal molar relaxivity (r1) of Gd in the nanoparticles, providing the potential for simultaneously bio-imaging and cancer-targeting therapy.

Keywords: Core-shell; Mesoporous; Multimodality biomedical imaging; Targeted drug delivery; Up-conversion nanoparticles.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Antineoplastic Agents / administration & dosage
  • Cell Line
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Contrast Media* / chemistry
  • Doxorubicin / administration & dosage
  • Drug Delivery Systems*
  • Female
  • Fluorides* / chemistry
  • Folic Acid / chemistry
  • Gadolinium* / chemistry
  • Humans
  • Luminescent Agents* / chemistry
  • Magnetic Resonance Imaging / methods
  • Mice
  • Models, Molecular
  • Multimodal Imaging / methods
  • Nanoparticles* / chemistry
  • Neoplasms / diagnosis
  • Tomography, X-Ray Computed / methods
  • Yttrium* / chemistry

Substances

  • Antineoplastic Agents
  • Contrast Media
  • Luminescent Agents
  • sodium yttriumtetrafluoride
  • Yttrium
  • Doxorubicin
  • Folic Acid
  • Gadolinium
  • Fluorides