Abstract
Recently, surface-enhanced Raman scattering nanoprobes have shown tremendous potential in oncological imaging owing to the high sensitivity and specificity of their fingerprint-like spectra. As current Raman scanners rely on a slow, point-by-point spectrum acquisition, there is an unmet need for faster imaging to cover a clinically relevant area in real-time. Herein, we report the rational design and optimization of fluorescence-Raman bimodal nanoparticles (FRNPs) that synergistically combine the specificity of Raman spectroscopy with the versatility and speed of fluorescence imaging. DNA-enabled molecular engineering allows the rational design of FRNPs with a detection limit as low as 5 × 10−15 M. FRNPs selectively accumulate in tumor tissue mouse cancer models and enable real-time fluorescence imaging for tumor detection, resection, and subsequent Raman-based verification of clean margins. Furthermore, FRNPs enable highly efficient image-guided photothermal ablation of tumors, widening the scope of the NPs into the therapeutic realm.
Highlights
Surface-enhanced Raman scattering nanoprobes have shown tremendous potential in oncological imaging owing to the high sensitivity and specificity of their fingerprint-like spectra
We explored the possibility of using DNA as a programmable linker between the AuNP and the fluorophore for the optimization of an fluorescence-Raman bimodal nanoparticles (FRNPs) design to achieve high sensitivity of both fluorescence and surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) combined with photothermal therapy (PTT) enabled tumor ablation capabilities using in vivo models of cancer
We developed a DNA-based strategy to optimize the functionality of NPs with all-in-one NIR fluorescence and Raman emission for highly efficient cancer optical imaging and PTT applications
Summary
Surface-enhanced Raman scattering nanoprobes have shown tremendous potential in oncological imaging owing to the high sensitivity and specificity of their fingerprint-like spectra. We present the DNA-based rational design of an all-in-one, dual-mode fluorescence-Raman NP (referred to as FRNP hereafter) for cancer imaging and therapy. We explored the possibility of using DNA as a programmable linker between the AuNP and the fluorophore for the optimization of an FRNP design to achieve high sensitivity of both fluorescence and SERS combined with photothermal therapy (PTT) enabled tumor ablation capabilities using in vivo models of cancer.
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