Targeted CT imaging of human hepatocellular carcinoma using low-generation dendrimer-entrapped gold nanoparticles modified with lactobionic acid

摘要: Development of cost-effective nanoscale contrast agents for targeted tumor computed tomography (CT) imaging remains a great challenge. Here, we report the synthesis dendrimer-entrapped AuNPs (Au DENPs) using generation 2 poly(amidoamine) dendrimers pre-modified with fluorescein isothiocyanate via thiourea linkage and lactobionic acid (LA) polyethylene glycol spacer as templates. The formed Au DENPs were characterized different techniques used nanoprobe CT hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). We show that LA-modified mean core size 1.8 nm are water-dispersible, colloidally stable under temperatures (4–50 °C) pH (5–8) conditions, cytocompatible in studied concentration range. Flow cytometry results reveal LA-Au able to specifically target HepG2 cells (a human HCC cell line) overexpressing asialoglycoprotein receptors receptor-mediated targeting pathway. Importantly, developed can be vitro xenografted model vivo. With demonstrated organ compatibility, low-generation templates good candidate highly efficient HCC.