biostudies-literatureUnknown6Wang HNanoprobes for combined optical and magnetic resonance imaging have tremendous potential in early cancer diagnosis. Gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) co-doped with Gd₂O₃ mesoporous silica nanocomposite (Au/Gd@MCM-41) can produce pronounced contrast enhancement for T1 weighted image in magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Here, we show the remarkably high sensitivity of Au/Gd@MCM-41 to the human poorly differentiated nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) cell line (CNE-2) using fluorescence lifetime imaging (FLIM). The upconversion luminescences from CNE-2 and the normal nasopharyngeal (NP) cells (NP69) after uptake of Au/Gd@MCM-41 show the characteristic of two-photon-induced-radiative recombination of the AuNPs. The presence of the Gd³⁺ ion induces a much shorter luminescence lifetime in CNE-2 cells. The interaction between AuNPs and Gd³⁺ ion clearly enhances the optical sensitivity of Au/Gd@MCM-41 to CNE-2. Furthermore, the difference in the autofluorescence between CNE-2 and NP69 cells can be efficiently demonstrated by the emission lifetimes of Au/Gd@MCM-41 through the Forster energy transfers from the endogenous fluorophores to AuNPs. The results suggest that Au/Gd@MCM-41 may impart high optical resolution for the FLIM imaging that differentiates normal and high-grade precancers.Scientific reports34367https://www.ebi.ac.uk/biostudies/studies/S-EPMC5046069biostudies-literatureHigh sensitivity of gold nanoparticles co-doped with Gd₂O₃ mesoporous silica nanocomposite to nasopharyngeal carcinoma cells.PMC5046069Shao YTian XHu WWang HLiu CZhang LZhang SLi LfalseHigh sensitivity of gold nanoparticles co-doped with Gd₂O₃ mesoporous silica nanocomposite to nasopharyngeal carcinoma cells.Nanoprobes for combined optical and magnetic resonance imaging have tremendous potential in early cancer diagnosis. Gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) co-doped with Gd₂O₃ mesoporous silica nanocomposite (Au/Gd@MCM-41) can produce pronounced contrast enhancement for T1 weighted image in magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Here, we show the remarkably high sensitivity of Au/Gd@MCM-41 to the human poorly differentiated nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) cell line (CNE-2) using fluorescence lifetime imaging (FLIM). The upconversion luminescences from CNE-2 and the normal nasopharyngeal (NP) cells (NP69) after uptake of Au/Gd@MCM-41 show the characteristic of two-photon-induced-radiative recombination of the AuNPs. The presence of the Gd³⁺ ion induces a much shorter luminescence lifetime in CNE-2 cells. The interaction between AuNPs and Gd³⁺ ion clearly enhances the optical sensitivity of Au/Gd@MCM-41 to CNE-2. Furthermore, the difference in the autofluorescence between CNE-2 and NP69 cells can be efficiently demonstrated by the emission lifetimes of Au/Gd@MCM-41 through the Forster energy transfers from the endogenous fluorophores to AuNPs. The results suggest that Au/Gd@MCM-41 may impart high optical resolution for the FLIM imaging that differentiates normal and high-grade precancers.2016-01-01T00:00:00Z2016 Oct2025-04-18T18:37:39.09Z2019-03-27T02:25:40ZS-EPMC50460692769496610.1038/srep34367