Rapid transformation of protein-caged nanomaterials into microbubbles as bimodal imaging agents

ACS Nano. 2012 Jun 26;6(6):5111-21. doi: 10.1021/nn300768d. Epub 2012 May 31.

Abstract

We present a general method for converting colloidal nanomaterials into microbubbles as ultrasound contrast agents. Protein-caged nanomaterials, made either by self-assembled nanoparticles' protein corona or by fluorescent gold nanoclusters, can be rapidly transformed into microbubbles via a sonochemical route, which promote disulfide cross-linking of cysteine residues between protein-caged nanomaterials and free albumin during acoustic cavitation. The proposed methods yielded microbubbles with multiple functions by adjusting the original nanoparticle/protein mixture. We also showed a new dual-modal imaging agent of fluorescent gold microbubbles in vitro and in vivo, which can hold many potential applications in medical diagnostics and therapy.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Contrast Media / chemical synthesis
  • Materials Testing
  • Microbubbles*
  • Microscopy, Fluorescence / methods*
  • Molecular Imaging / methods*
  • Nanoparticles* / chemistry
  • Proteins*

Substances

  • Contrast Media
  • Proteins