Multifunctional aptamer-silver conjugates as theragnostic agents for specific cancer cell therapy and fluorescence-enhanced cell imaging

Anal Chem. 2015 Apr 7;87(7):3736-45. doi: 10.1021/ac504230j. Epub 2015 Mar 12.

Abstract

We fabricated a multifunctional theragnostic agent Ag-Sgc8-FAM for apoptosis-based cancer therapy and fluorescence-enhanced cell imaging. For cancer therapy, aptamers Sgc8 and TDO5 acted as recognizing molecules to bind CCRF-CEM and Ramos cells specifically. It was found that aptamer-silver conjugates (Ag-Sgc8, Ag-TDO5) could be internalized into cells by receptor-mediated endocytosis, inducing specific apoptosis of CCRF-CEM and Ramos cells. The apoptosis of cells depended on the concentration of aptamer-silver conjugates, as well as the incubation time between cells and aptamer-silver conjugates. The apoptotic effects on CCRF-CEM and Ramos cells were different. Annexin V/PI staining, AO/PI staining, MTT assays and ROS (reactive oxygen species) detection demonstrated the specific apoptosis of CCRF-CEM and Ramos cells. For fluorescence-enhanced cell imaging, Ag-Sgc8-FAM was prepared. Compared to Sgc8-FAM molecules, Ag-Sgc8-FAM was an excellent imaging agent as numerous Sgc8-FAM molecules were enriched on the surface of AgNPs for multiple binding with CCRF-CEM cells and signal amplification. Moreover, AgNPs could increase the fluorescence intensity of FAM by metal-enhanced fluorescence (MEF) effect. Therefore, aptamer-silver conjugates can be potential theragnostic agents for inducing specific apoptosis of cells and achieving cells imaging in real time.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Antineoplastic Agents / chemical synthesis
  • Antineoplastic Agents / chemistry
  • Antineoplastic Agents / pharmacology
  • Antineoplastic Agents / therapeutic use
  • Apoptosis / drug effects*
  • Aptamers, Nucleotide / chemistry
  • Aptamers, Nucleotide / therapeutic use*
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Dose-Response Relationship, Drug
  • Drug Screening Assays, Antitumor
  • Fluorescence
  • Humans
  • Metal Nanoparticles / chemistry
  • Metal Nanoparticles / therapeutic use*
  • Molecular Imaging*
  • Neoplasms / diagnosis*
  • Neoplasms / drug therapy*
  • Neoplasms / pathology
  • Silver / chemistry
  • Silver / therapeutic use
  • Structure-Activity Relationship

Substances

  • Antineoplastic Agents
  • Aptamers, Nucleotide
  • Silver