Hydrophilic Quantum Dots Functionalized with Gd(III)-DO3A Monoamide Chelates as Bright and Effective T₁-weighted Bimodal Nanoprobes.

ABSTRACT: Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is a powerful non-invasive diagnostic tool that enables distinguishing healthy from pathological tissues, with high anatomical detail. Nevertheless, MRI is quite limited in the investigation of molecular/cellular biochemical events, which can be reached by fluorescence-based techniques. Thus, we developed bimodal nanosystems consisting in hydrophilic quantum dots (QDs) directly conjugated to Gd(III)-DO3A monoamide chelates, a Gd(III)-DOTA derivative, allowing for the combination of the advantages of both MRI and fluorescence-based tools. These nanoparticulate systems can also improve MRI contrast, by increasing the local concentration of paramagnetic chelates. Transmetallation assays, optical characterization, and relaxometric analyses, showed that the deve

SUBMITTER: Pereira MIA 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6382838 | biostudies-literature | 2019 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature