Use of Ag-Au-ICG to increase fluorescence image of human hepatocellular carcinoma cell lines

Indocyanine green (ICG) is effective for a variety of applications including liver tumour imaging and operates in the near-infrared window. Agents for near-infrared imaging are, however, still in clinical development. The present study aimed to prepare and investigate fluorescence emission properties of ICG in combination with Ag-Au in order to enhance their specific interactions with human hepatocellular carcinoma cell lines (HepG-2). The Ag-Au-ICG complex was prepared via physical adsorption, and hence evaluated for fluorescence spectra using a spectrophotometer. Ag-Au-ICG at an optimised dosage (Ag-Au:ICG = 0.0147:1 molar ratio) in Intralipid medium was added to HepG-2 to observe the maximum fluorescence signal intensity, which further enhanced HepG-2 contrast fluorescence. Ag-Au-ICG served as a fluorescence enhancer bound onto the liposome membrane, whilst free Ag, Au, and pure ICG induced low levels of cytotoxicity in HepG-2 and a normal human cell line. Thus, our findings provided new insights for the liver cancer imaging.

Automated summary

This study aimed to enhance the specific interactions between human hepatocellular carcinoma cell lines (HepG-2) by preparing and investigating the fluorescence emission properties of the Ag-Au-ICG complex. The complex was prepared via physical adsorption and evaluated for fluorescence spectra. The addition of an optimized dosage of Ag-Au-ICG to HepG-2 resulted in maximum fluorescence signal intensity and enhanced contrast fluorescence. The complex showed low cytotoxicity, making it a potential fluorescence enhancer for liver cancer imaging.