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. 2019 Dec 12:14:9855-9863.
doi: 10.2147/IJN.S228962. eCollection 2019.

A Combinatorial Approach for the Fabrication of Magneto-Optical Hybrid Nanoparticles

Dmitry S Koktysh  1   2 , Wellington Pham  3   4   5
Affiliations

A Combinatorial Approach for the Fabrication of Magneto-Optical Hybrid Nanoparticles

Dmitry S Koktysh et al. Int J Nanomedicine. .

Abstract

Introduction: The increasing demands for better resolution combined with anatomical information in biomedical imaging necessitate the development of multimodal contrast agents. In this respect, the multivalency of nanotechnology enables the integration of nanomaterials with distinct biophysical properties into a unique probe, capable to exert superior imaging characterstics through synergistic enhancement unmatched by any single modality.

Materials and methods: Novel magneto-optical hybrid nanoparticles (MOHNPs), comprise semiconductor quantum dots (QDs) tethered on the surface of superparamagnetic iron oxide (SPIO) NPs, were synthesized using a combinatorial approach. The semiconductor components utilized for the synthesis of the hybrid NPs contained cadmium-free QDs, which were stabilized by a variety of functional ligands including thiols, polyethyleneimine (PEI) and amphiphilic polymers. While SPIO NPs were further modified with silica or PEI on the outermost layer. The main mechanism to assemble semiconductor QDs onto the SPIO NPs employed a core-shell approach, in which covalent bonding and electrostatic interaction held the components together.

Results: The versatility of the NP assembling mechanism described in this work offered a robust and flexible fabrication of MOHNPs. A proof-of-concept study demonstrated desterous coating of folic acid onto the surface of MOHNPs to create a targeted imaging probe. The emission of the resulted hybrid NPs extended in the near-infrared region, suitable for in vivo applications.

Conclusion: This novel assembling technology offers far-reaching capabilities to generate complex multimodal nanoiamging probes.

Keywords: hybrid nanoparticles; imaging agents; magnetic nanoparticles; quantum dots.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors report no conflicts of interest in this work.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Schematic representation of MOHNPs, which are comprised of SPIO and QDs NPs.
Figure 2
Figure 2
TEM micrographs of synthesized AgInS2/ZnS (A), CuInS2/ZnS (B) QDs and SPIO NPs synthesized in aqueous solution (C), oleylamine (D).
Figure 3
Figure 3
The hydrodynamic diameter of hybrid NPs at different stages of assembly using SPIO NPs synthesized in aqueous solution (A), oleylamine (B).
Figure 4
Figure 4
Zeta potential of hybrid NPs at different stages of fabrication.
Figure 5
Figure 5
High-resolution TEM images of SPIO NPs incorporated into silica (A) and further coated by AgInS2/ZnS QDs (B) with low-resolution TEM image (C) of a large number of NPs than in (B).
Figure 6
Figure 6
Hybrid NPs placed in magnetic concentrator under ambient light (A) and UV-irradiation (B).
Figure 7
Figure 7
Optical absorption and photoluminescence spectra of differently structured hybrid NPs containing AgInS2/ZnS (A–C), CuInS2/ZnS (D) with the composition SPIO-DX-PEI-QDs-PEI (A–C), SPIO-PEI-QDs (D), SPIO-SiO2-PEI-QDs-PEI (C, D) to allow tuning of the emission wavelength of the resulting hybrid probes.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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