A Combinatorial Approach for the Fabrication of Magneto-Optical Hybrid Nanoparticles

Abstract

Introduction

The increasing demands for better resolution combined with anatomical information in biomedical imaging necessitate the development of multimodal contrast agents. In this respect, the multivalency of nanotechnology enables the integration of nanomaterials with distinct biophysical properties into a unique probe, capable to exert superior imaging characterstics through synergistic enhancement unmatched by any single modality.

Materials and methods

Novel magneto-optical hybrid nanoparticles (MOHNPs), comprise semiconductor quantum dots (QDs) tethered on the surface of superparamagnetic iron oxide (SPIO) NPs, were synthesized using a combinatorial approach. The semiconductor components utilized for the synthesis of the hybrid NPs contained cadmium-free QDs, which were stabilized by a variety of functional ligands including thiols, polyethyleneimine (PEI) and amphiphilic polymers. While SPIO NPs were further modified with silica or PEI on the outermost layer. The main mechanism to assemble semiconductor QDs onto the SPIO NPs employed a core-shell approach, in which covalent bonding and electrostatic interaction held the components together.

Results

The versatility of the NP assembling mechanism described in this work offered a robust and flexible fabrication of MOHNPs. A proof-of-concept study demonstrated desterous coating of folic acid onto the surface of MOHNPs to create a targeted imaging probe. The emission of the resulted hybrid NPs extended in the near-infrared region, suitable for in vivo applications.

Conclusion

This novel assembling technology offers far-reaching capabilities to generate complex multimodal nanoiamging probes.

Keywords:

• magnetic nanoparticles
• quantum dots
• imaging agents
• hybrid nanoparticles

Acknowledgements

This work was partially funded by an NIH grants R01CA160700, R01AG061138. The authors acknowledge support from Vanderbilt Institute of Imaging Science and Vanderbilt Institute of Nanoscale Science and Engineering.

Disclosure

The authors report no conflicts of interest in this work.