Gold Nanoclusters for NIR-II Fluorescence Imaging of Bones

Deling Li; Qiang Liu; Qingrong Qi; Hui Shi; En-Chi Hsu; Weiyu Chen; Wenli Yuan; Yifan Wu; Sien Lin; Yitian Zeng; Zunyu Xiao; Lingyun Xu; Yanrong Zhang; Tanya Stoyanova; Wang Jia; Zhen Cheng

doi:10.1002/smll.202003851

Gold Nanoclusters for NIR-II Fluorescence Imaging of Bones

Small. 2020 Oct;16(43):e2003851. doi: 10.1002/smll.202003851. Epub 2020 Sep 30.

Authors

Deling Li¹, Qiang Liu², Qingrong Qi^{3

4}, Hui Shi³, En-Chi Hsu⁵, Weiyu Chen³, Wenli Yuan³, Yifan Wu³, Sien Lin⁶, Yitian Zeng⁶, Zunyu Xiao³, Lingyun Xu³, Yanrong Zhang⁷, Tanya Stoyanova⁵, Wang Jia¹, Zhen Cheng³

Affiliations

¹ Department of Neurosurgery, Beijing Tiantan Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, 100070, China.
² College of Chemistry and Environmental Protection Engineering, Southwest Minzu University, Chengdu, Sichuan, 610041, China.
³ Molecular Imaging Program at Stanford (MIPS), Bio-X Program, and Department of Radiology, Stanford University, Palo Alto, CA, 94305, USA.
⁴ West China School of Pharmacy, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, China.
⁵ Department of Radiology, Canary Center at Stanford for Cancer Early Detection, Stanford University, Palo Alto, CA, 94304, USA.
⁶ Department of Medicine, Stanford University School of Medicine, Palo Alto, CA, 94305, USA.
⁷ Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Stanford University, Palo Alto, CA, 94304, USA.

PMID: 33000882
DOI: 10.1002/smll.202003851

Abstract

Fluorescence imaging in the second near-infrared window (NIR-II, 1000-1700 nm) holds great promise for deep tissue visualization. Development of novel clinical translatable NIR-II probes is crucial for realizing the medical applications of NIR-II fluorescence imaging. Herein, the glutathione-capped gold nanoclusters (AuNCs, specifically Au₂₅ (SG)₁₈ ) demonstrate highly efficient binding capability to hydroxyapatite in vitro for the first time. Further in vivo NIR-II fluorescence imaging of AuNCs indicate that they accumulate in bone tissues with high contrast and signal-background ratio. AuNCs are also mainly and quickly excreted from body through renal system, showing excellent ribs and thoracic vertebra imaging because of no background signal in liver and spleen. The deep tissue penetration capability and high resolution of AuNCs in NIR-II imaging render their great potential for fluorescence-guided surgery like spinal pedicle screw implantation. Overall, AuNCs are highly promising and clinical translatable NIR-II imaging probe for visualizing bone and bone related abnormalities.

Keywords: NIR-II imaging; bone targeting; gold nanoclusters; renal excretable nanoparticles.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Bone and Bones / diagnostic imaging
Glutathione
Gold*
Metal Nanoparticles*
Optical Imaging

Substances

Gold
Glutathione