Multimodal imaging of dendritic cells using a novel hybrid magneto-optical nanoprobe

A transfecting agent-coated hybrid imaging nanoprobe (HINP) composed of visible and near-infrared (NIR) light emitting quantum dots (QDs) tethered to superparamagnetic iron oxide (SPIO) nanoparticles was developed. The surface modification of QDs and SPIO particles and incorporation of dual QDs within the SPIO were characterized by dynamic light scattering (DLS), quartz crystal microbalance (QCM) analysis and atomic force microscopy (AFM). The optical contrasting properties of HINP were characterized by absorption and photoluminescence spectroscopy and fluorescence imaging. Multicolor HINP was used in imaging the migration of dendritic cells (DCs) by optical, two-photon and magnetic resonance imaging techniques. From the Clinical Editor: The development of a transfecting agent-coated hybrid imaging nanoprobe (HINP) composed of visible and near-infrared light emitting quantum dots (QDs) tethered to superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles is reported in this paper. Multicolor HINP was used in imaging the migration of dendritic cells by optical, two-photon and magnetic resonance imaging techniques. (C) 2011 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.