Abstract
We demonstrate a novel route to synthesize Fe3O 4-CdSe/ZnS multifunctional nanoclusters (MNCs) with excellent optical and magnetic properties and biocompatibility. The successful fabrication of highly fluorescent and magnetic MNCs is achieved via a coupling process based on a partial ligand exchange reaction at the aqueous-organic solution interface. In addition, we show that dendritic cells (DCs), the sentinel of the immune system, can uptake the MNCs without significant change in cell viability. The MNCs uptaken by the DCs can be used for imaging, tracking, and separating the DCs. Furthermore, the MNCs can be loaded with a pathogen-associated molecular pattern, lipid A, via a hydrophobic-hydrophobic interaction. Ex vivo labeling of DCs with the MNC-lipid A complex enhances the DC migration to draining lymph nodes and tumor antigen-specific T cell responses in vivo. Our work may contribute to the development of synthetic routes to various multifunctional nanoclusters and DC-based cancer immunotherapies.
Original language | English |
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Pages (from-to) | 5297-5307 |
Number of pages | 11 |
Journal | ACS Applied Materials and Interfaces |
Volume | 6 |
Issue number | 7 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - 2014 Apr 9 |
Keywords
- T cell
- dendritic cell
- fluorescent
- immunotherapy
- multifunctional
- nanocluster
- superparamagnetic
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- General Materials Science