Quick search Find article
Quick search
Find article

NIR-to-visible upconversion nanoparticles for fluorescent labeling and targeted delivery of siRNA

Shan Jiang1, Yong Zhang1,2,6, Kian Meng Lim3, Eugene K W Sim4 and Lei Ye5

Show affiliations


Near-infrared (NIR)-to-visible upconversion fluorescent nanoparticles were synthesized and used for imaging and targeted delivery of small interfering RNA (siRNA) to cancer cells. Silica-coated NaYF4 upconversion nanoparticles (UCNs) co-doped with lanthanide ions (Yb/Er) were synthesized. Folic acid and anti-Her2 antibody conjugated UCNs were used to fluorescently label the folate receptors of HT-29 cells and Her2 receptors of SK-BR-3 cells, respectively. The intracellular uptake of the folic acid and antibody conjugated UCNs was visualized using a confocal fluorescence microscope equipped with an NIR laser. siRNA was attached to anti-Her2 antibody conjugated UCNs and the delivery of these nanoparticles to SK-BR-3 cells was studied. Meanwhile, a luciferase assay was established to confirm the gene silencing effect of siRNA. Upconversion nanoparticles can serve as a fluorescent probe and delivery system for simultaneous imaging and delivery of biological molecules.


PACS

87.14.G- Nucleic acids

87.64.mk Confocal

87.19.X- Diseases

87.64.K- Spectroscopy

87.85.Qr Nanotechnologies-design

87.85.Lf Tissue engineering

Subjects

Medical physics

Biological physics

Dates

Issue 15 (15 April 2009)

Received 15 December 2008

Published 24 March 2009



View by subject




Export








Please login to access our web services, or create an account if you don't yet have one.

You must have cookies enabled in your web browser to be able to login.

Username
Password

Forgotten your password? Get a new one here.