Aptamer-Functionalized Fluorescent Silica Nanoparticles for Highly Sensitive Detection of Leukemia Cells

• Published in: Nanoscale research letters Vol. 11; no. 1; pp. 298 - 8
• Main Authors: Tan, Juntao, Yang, Nuo, Hu, Zixi, Su, Jing, Zhong, Jianhong, Yang, Yang, Yu, Yating, Zhu, Jianmeng, Xue, Dabin, Huang, Yingying, Lai, Zongqiang, Huang, Yong, Lu, Xiaoling, Zhao, Yongxiang
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: New York Springer US 01.12.2016; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Chemistry and Materials Science; Coupling; Flow cytometry; Fluorescence; Leukemias; Materials Science; Microscopy; Molecular Medicine; Nano Express; Nanochemistry; Nanoparticles; Nanoscale Science and Technology; Nanotechnology; Nanotechnology and Microengineering; Silicon dioxide; Strategy; Ramos Cell; Reverse Microemulsion Method; Amide Coupling; Detect Cancer Cell; Human Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia
• ISSN: 1931-7573; 1556-276X
• DOI: 10.1186/s11671-016-1512-8

A simple, highly sensitive method to detect leukemia cells has been developed based on aptamer-modified fluorescent silica nanoparticles (FSNPs). In this strategy, the amine-labeled Sgc8 aptamer was conjugated to carboxyl-modified FSNPs via amide coupling between amino and carboxyl groups. Sensitivity and specificity of Sgc8-FSNPs were assessed using flow cytometry and fluorescence microscopy. These results showed that Sgc8-FSNPs detected leukemia cells with high sensitivity and specificity. Aptamer-modified FSNPs hold promise for sensitive and specific detection of leukemia cells. Changing the aptamer may allow the FSNPs to detect other types of cancer cells.