Synthesis and characterization of modified ultrasmall nanoparticles as multimodal imaging agents

The synthesis of multimodal imaging agents is indeed a growing field and a lot of research is currently being done in this area because of its wide biomedical applications.[1] The idea behind this research is to prepare a single molecule/nanoparticle which is suitable for two or more imaging techniques and thus can act as a multimodal imaging agent, for example, the combination of optical and nuclear imaging modalities may provide complementary information for improving diagnosis as well as the treatment of diseases. These imaging agents combat the limitations of sensitivity, spatial and temporal resolution and also tissue penetrability. The high hydrophilicity of the nanoparticles and fast renal clearance of the complex from the body are the major highlights.
Amine terminated ultrasmall Silicon nanoparticles[2] (Si NPs) of size <5 nm were synthesized by hydrothermal method and purified by dialysis. Sulfo-Cyanine 5[3] dye was attached selectively to the amine terminated Si NPs. The single domain antibody is also conjugated with the particles for specific targeting of the cancerous tumors via a molecular handle such as PEG-Maleimide, which facilitates the targeting as well as maintains the hydrophilicity of the particles at the same time. Bispidines[4] are to be used as a copper chelator for radiolabeling the particles by 64Cu and could be used for the in vitro and in vivo studies by Positron emission tomography.
The substituents after coupling with the USNPs are assumed to act as excellent multimodal imaging agent which can be used for the cancer diagnosis and therapy.

References
[1] G. J. Cheon, Y. Chang, J. Yoo, J. Cheon, Angew. Chem. 2008, 120, 6355 –6358.
[2] Y. Zhong, F. Peng, F. Bao, S. Wang, X. Ji, L. Yang, Y. Su, S. Lee, Y. He, J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2013, 135, 8350−8356.
[3] K. Viehweger, L. Barbaro, K. P. García, T. Joshi, G. Geipel, J. Steinbach, H. Stephan, L. Spiccia, B. Graham, Bioconjugate Chem. 2014, 25, 1011−1022.
[4] H. Stephan, M. Walther, S. Fähnemann, P. Ceroni, J. Molloy, G. Bergamini, F. Heisig, C. E. Müller, W. Kraus, P. Comba, Chem. Eur. J. 2014, 20, 17011-17018.