Self-luminescing BRET-FRET near-infrared dots for in vivo lymph-node mapping and tumour imaging

Liqin Xiong, Adam J. Shuhendler and Jianghong Rao ()
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Liqin Xiong: Molecular Imaging Program at Stanford (MIPS), Stanford University
Adam J. Shuhendler: Molecular Imaging Program at Stanford (MIPS), Stanford University
Jianghong Rao: Molecular Imaging Program at Stanford (MIPS), Stanford University

Nature Communications, 2012, vol. 3, issue 1, 1-9

Abstract: Abstract Strong autofluorescence from living tissues, and the scattering and absorption of short-wavelength light in living tissues, significantly reduce sensitivity of in vivo fluorescence imaging. These issues can be tackled by using imaging probes that emit in the near-infrared wavelength range. Here we describe self-luminescing near-infrared-emitting nanoparticles employing an energy transfer relay that integrates bioluminescence resonance energy transfer and fluorescence resonance energy transfer, enabling in vivo near-infrared imaging without external light excitation. Nanoparticles were 30–40 nm in diameter, contained no toxic metals, exhibited long circulation time and high serum stability, and produced strong near-infrared emission. Using these nanoparticles, we successfully imaged lymphatic networks and vasculature of xenografted tumours in living mice. The self-luminescing feature provided excellent tumour-to-background ratio (>100) for imaging very small tumours (2–3 mm in diameter). Our results demonstrate that these new nanoparticles are well suited to in vivo imaging applications such as lymph-node mapping and cancer imaging.

Date: 2012
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DOI: 10.1038/ncomms2197

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