Tumor detection strategy using ZnO light-emitting nanoprobes
Journal
Nanotechnology
Journal Volume
23
Journal Issue
5
Date Issued
2012
Author(s)
Abstract
Traditional methods of detecting cancer cells, such as fluorescence, have their limits and can hardly be used for identification during tumor resection. Here we report an alternative tumor detection technology using ZnO nanorods bonded to antibodies as cancer cell probes. Our experiment shows that antibodies toward epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) can be connected to ZnO nanorods and to EGFR receptors of SCC (squamous cell carcinoma). The cancer cell can be recognized by the naked eye or an optical microscope with the help of purple light emission from ZnO/EGFR antibody probes. On the other hand, for cells with less EGFR expression, in our case Hs68, no purple light was observed as the probes were washed off. From the photoluminescent spectra, the peak intensity ratio between the purple light (from ZnO at the wavelength 377nm) and the green band (from the autofluorescence of cells) is much higher with the presence in SCC, as compared with Hs68. The ZnO/EGFR antibody probes have the potential to be applied to surgery for real-time tumor cell identification. The cancer cells will be excised with the help of purple light emission. ? 2012 IOP Publishing Ltd.
SDGs
Other Subjects
Autofluorescence; Cancer cells; Epidermal growth factor receptors; Green band; Naked-eye; Optical microscopes; Peak intensity ratio; Photoluminescent spectra; Squamous cell carcinoma; Tumor cells; Tumor detection; Tumor resection; ZnO; ZnO nanorod; Antibodies; Chemical detection; Diseases; Light emission; Nanorods; Probes; Tumors; Zinc oxide; Cells; aluminum oxide; antibody; epidermal growth factor receptor; nanoconjugate; nanotube; zinc oxide; article; case control study; chemistry; human; luminescence; metabolism; methodology; pathology; spectrofluorometry; squamous cell carcinoma; tumor cell line; Aluminum Oxide; Antibodies; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell; Case-Control Studies; Cell Line, Tumor; Humans; Luminescent Measurements; Nanoconjugates; Nanotubes; Receptor, Epidermal Growth Factor; Spectrometry, Fluorescence; Zinc Oxide
Type
journal article