NIR Imaging of the Integrin-Rich Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma Using Ternary Copper Indium Selenide/Zinc Sulfide-Based Quantum Dots.

ABSTRACT: The efficient intraoperative identification of cancers requires the development of the bright, minimally-toxic, tumor-specific near-infrared (NIR) probes as contrast agents. Luminescent semiconductor quantum dots (QDs) offer several unique advantages for in vivo cellular imaging by providing bright and photostable fluorescent probes. Here, we present the synthesis of ZnCuInSe/ZnS core/shell QDs emitting in NIR (~750 nm) conjugated to NAVPNLRGDLQVLAQKVART (A20FMDV2) peptide for targeting αvβ6 integrin-rich head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC). Integrin αvβ6 is usually not detectable in nonpathological tissues, but is highly upregulated in HNSCC. QD-A20 showed αvβ6 integrin-specific binding in two-dimension (2D) monolayer and three-dimension (3D) spheroid in vitro HNSCC models. QD-A

SUBMITTER: Yakavets I 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7764319 | biostudies-literature | 2020 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature