RESUMEN
Developing photoactivatable theranostic platforms with integrated functionalities of biocompatibility, targeting, imaging contrast, and therapy is a promising approach for cancer diagnosis and therapy. Here, we report a theranostic agent based on a hybrid nanoparticle comprising fullerene nanocrystals and gold nanoparticles (FGNPs) for photoacoustic imaging and photothermal therapy. Compared to gold nanoparticles and fullerene crystals, FGNPs exhibited stronger photoacoustic signals and photothermal heating characteristics by irradiating light with an optimal wavelength. Our studies demonstrated that FGNPs could kill cancer cells due to their photothermal heating characteristics in vitro. Moreover, FGNPs that are accumulated in tumor tissue via the enhanced permeation and retention effect can visualize tumor tissue due to their photoacoustic signal in tumor xenograft model mice. The theranostic agent with FGNPs shows promise for cancer therapy.
Asunto(s)
Fulerenos , Nanopartículas del Metal , Nanopartículas , Neoplasias , Técnicas Fotoacústicas , Animales , Línea Celular Tumoral , Fulerenos/química , Oro/química , Humanos , Nanopartículas del Metal/uso terapéutico , Ratones , Nanopartículas/química , Neoplasias/diagnóstico por imagen , Neoplasias/terapia , Técnicas Fotoacústicas/métodos , Fototerapia/métodos , Terapia Fototérmica , Medicina de Precisión , Nanomedicina Teranóstica/métodosRESUMEN
To assess the usefulness of oolong tea extract (OTE) staining for connective tissue observation, we examined the visceral pleural mesothelium of rat lung by transmission electron microscope. Four kinds of electron microscopic staining methods (routine, tannic acid, OTE in distilled water, and OTE in 0.1 M phosphate buffer) were compared to determine the most suitable method for electron microscopic observation of ultrathin sections. Elastin (elastic laminae) was selectively stained by tannic acid and both water and buffered OTE. Except for elastin, connective tissue and cell ultrastructures were also electron enhanced by tannic acid and both water and buffered OTE staining. However, using water OTE, the electron-dense filaments (10-12 nm in diameter) were obscured. In tannic acid staining, the unit membranes of the visceral pleural mesothelial cells were weaker as compared with routine and buffered OTE stains. Thus, the buffered OTE staining method is a highly useful technique for connective tissue observation and electron-enhanced staining in transmission electron microscopic preparations.