Single-band upconversion nanoprobes for multiplexed simultaneous in situ molecular mapping of cancer biomarkers

• DOI: 10.1038/ncomms7938
• Publication Date: 2015-04-24T12:04:24Z
• Authors: Lei Zhou; Rui Wang; Chi Yao; Xiaomin Li; Chengli Wang; Xiaoyan Zhang; Congjian Xu; Aijun Zeng; Dongyuan Zhao; Fan Zhang
• Keywords: Diagnostic Imaging; Science & Technology; Molecular Structure; Breast Neoplasms; 02 engineering and technology; Lanthanoid Series Elements; Article; Nanostructures; 3. Good health; Multidisciplinary Sciences; NANOCRYSTALS; Cell Line, Tumor; NANOPARTICLES; Biomarkers, Tumor; Science & Technology - Other Topics; Humans; Female; 0210 nano-technology; In Situ Hybridization, Fluorescence

AbstractThe identification of potential diagnostic markers and target molecules among the plethora of tumour oncoproteins for cancer diagnosis requires facile technology that is capable of quantitatively analysing multiple biomarkers in tumour cells and tissues. Diagnostic and prognostic classifications of human tumours are currently based on the western blotting and single-colour immunohistochemical methods that are not suitable for multiplexed detection. Herein, we report a general and novel method to prepare single-band upconversion nanoparticles with different colours. The expression levels of three biomarkers in breast cancer cells were determined using single-band upconversion nanoparticles, western blotting and immunohistochemical technologies with excellent correlation. Significantly, the application of antibody-conjugated single-band upconversion nanoparticle molecular profiling technology can achieve the multiplexed simultaneousin situbiodetection of biomarkers in breast cancer cells and tissue specimens and produce more accurate results for the simultaneous quantification of proteins present at low levels compared with classical immunohistochemical technology.