Targeting and imaging cancer cells by Folate-decorated, quantum dots (QDs)- loaded nanoparticles of biodegradable polymers

We developed a new strategy to prepare folate-decorated nanoparticles of biodegradable polymers for Quantum dots (QDs) formulation for targeted and sustained imaging for cancer diagnosis at its early stage. Poly(lactide)-vitamin E TPGS (PLA-TPGS) copolymer and vitamin E TPGS-carboxyl (TPGS-COOH) copolymer were synthesized. Their blend at various weight ratio was used to prepare folate-decorated nanoparticles (NPs) for QDs formulation to improve their imaging effects and reduce their side effects. The TPGS-COOH on the NP surface was designed to conjugate folate-NH2 with advantage to make the targeting effect adjustable. The size of such NPs was found in the range of 280–300 nm. In vitro cellular uptakes of such NPs were investigated with confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM), which demonstrated much higher internalization of the folate-decorated QDs-loaded PLA-TPGS/TPGS-COOH NPs by MCF-7 breast cancer cells which are of over-expression of folate receptors than the cellular uptake by NIH 3T3 fibroblast cells which are of low expression of folate receptors. Compared with the free QDs, the QDs formulated in the PLA-TPGS/TPGS-COOH NPs showed lower in vitro cytotoxicity for both of MCF-7 cells and NIH 3T3 cells. Additionally, our findings indicated that under same conditions, cytotoxicity of QDs formulated in the PLA-TPGS/TPGS-COOH NPs is lower for normal cells such as NIH 3T3 cells than that for breast cancer such as MCF-7 breast cancer cells due to folate targeting effect. Targeted imaging by QDs formulated in folate-decorated PLA-TPGS/TPGS-COOH nanoparticles with better effects and less side effects is feasible.