A Sequential Dual-locked Luminescent Copper Nanocluster Probe for Tumor Cell Imaging and Killing

Overview

Journal Mikrochim Acta

Specialties Biotechnology
Chemistry

Date 2024 Aug 5

PMID 39103612

Authors

Fei Chen

Ling Xie

Ting Deng

Jishan Li

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

A sequential dual-locked luminescent copper nanoclusters (CuNCs) probe was designed and synthesized for the specific imaging and selective killing of tumor cells. This nanoprobe was prepared by first forming a Fe-coupled tannic acid (TA)-stabilized CuNCs (CuNCs-Fe), which is in quenching state due to the electron transfer between CuNCs and Fe, and then coating a protectable layer of hyaluronic acid (HA) on the surface of CuNCs-Fe to form the final dual-locked nanoprobe (CuNCs-Fe@HA). When the nanoprobe of CuNCs-Fe@HA target enter the tumor cells through CD44-HA receptor, HAase will first digest the HA layer of the nanoprobes, and then, GSH over-expressed in tumor cells will reduce Fe to Fe, thus restoring the fluorescence emission of CuNCs and at the same time killing the tumor cells with the hydroxyl free radicals (∙OH) produced by the Fenton reaction between Fe and HO. This sequential dual-locked luminescent nanoprobe of CuNCs-Fe@HA has been successfully used for the specific imaging and selective killing of tumor cells.

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