Multifunctional Gold Nanoparticle-Based Fluorescence Resonance Energy-Transfer Probe for Target Drug Delivery and Cell Fluorescence Imaging

Qian Zhang，Yan Gong，Xin-jie Guo，Peng Zhang*，Cai-feng Ding*

Abstract

Drug delivery system has a profound significance for imaging capabilities and monitoring apoptosis process precisely in cancer therapeutic field. Herein, we designed cysteamine (CS)-stabilized gold nanoparticles, CS–gold nanoparticles (AuNPs)–doxorubicin (DOX), for fluorescence-enhanced cell imaging and target drug delivery. For cancer therapy, DOX was incorporated to CS–AuNPs by disulfide linkages which could be cleaved by glutathione (GSH) in cancer cells specifically. In addition, red-emissive DOX was quenched effectively by particular quenching effect of fluorescence resonance energy transfer from DOX to AuNPs, rendering monitoring target drug release by visual luminescence. The released DOX-SH acted as an indicator for cancer cells with red fluorescence and was further used for stimuli-responsive drug therapy. After an overall investigation of detection for GSH, proapoptosis for cancer cells, and inhibition for tumor tissues in vivo, the CS–AuNPs–DOX nanoprobe shows an obviously enhanced performance. This proposal provides an intelligent strategy for cell imaging and drug delivery, which serves as a promising candidate for anticancer therapeutic applications.

Article Link:  https://pubs.acs.org/doi/10.1021/acsami.8b12897