Near-infrared fluorescence imaging of cancer cells and tumors through specific biosynthesis of silver nanoclusters.

ABSTRACT: Human life toll by cancer, one of the highest among most dreaded diseases in advanced societies, could be reduced by implementing evidence-based strategies for its prevention, early diagnosis and assessment of the progress and suitability of therapies by fast and non-invasive methods. In this contribution, a novel strategy is reported for highly sensitive recognition and in vivo imaging of cancer cells taking advantage of their spontaneous ability to generate silver nanoclusters (NCs) with high near-infrared fluorescence emission by intracellular reduction of innocuous silver salts. Both ex vivo experiments comparing cancer cell models to normal cells and in vivo imaging of subcutaneous xenografted tumor (cervical carcinoma model) in nude mice established the validity of this strategy for

SUBMITTER: Gao S 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3955918 | biostudies-literature | 2014 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature