Monoclonal-Antibody-Templated Gold Nanoclusters for HER2 Receptors Targeted Fluorescence Imaging
Xin Zhang, Muhua Chen, Yunwei Zhang, Yi Hou, Yue Wu, Meinan Yao, Liqiang Li, Linqing Shi, Tianyu Liu, Biao Hu, Huiyun Zhao, Xiaoda Li, Jiyun Shi, Bing Jia, Fan Wang
Abstract
HER2 receptor-specific monoclonal-antibody-templated gold nanoclusters, Herceptin-templated Au NCs (Her-Au NCs), have been successfully obtained via “green” synthesis. This strategy allows the fluorescent gold nanoclusters (Au NCs) formed in the three-dimensional structure of Herceptin without destroying the high specificity and affinity to HER2 receptors. The Her-Au NCs have been found to be superior compared to Cy3-Herceptin in the fluorescence emission (λem = 645 nm) and the photostability under high-intensity UV irradiation or long-time storage. Moreover, Her-Au NCs can achieve receptor-specific imaging without targeted modification owing to the HER2-binding ability of the Herceptin scaffold. For imaging applications, Her-Au NCs can be utilized as effective optical probes for not only fluorescence imaging of HER2-positive cancer cells but also imaging of HER2-positive tumors in vivo.