Imaging of lung cancer cells with molecular beacons delivered by Chitosan nanoparticles / 解放军医学杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective: To investigate the effect of a method for imaging lung cancer cells using nanotechnology and molecular beacon (MB) that identifies miR-155 and is delivered by chitosan nanoparticles (CS). Methods: The miR-155 MB modified by locked nucleic acids (LNAs) was designed and synthesized. The CS-MB complex was synthesized by self-assembly method and tested for its physicochemical properties including anti-DNase I features, particle size, zeta potential and so on. The miR-155 MB was transfected with CS as vectors. The abilities of miR-155 MB to identify miR-155 and thus to image lung cancer cells were determined by confocal microscopy. Furthermore, the miR-155 expression levels were detected by qRT-PCR to validated the effect of miR-155 MB. The random sequence molecular beacon (RS MB) was set as a negative control. Results: The CS-MB complex at the weight ratio of 71 was best suited for transfection due to its high encapsulation rate, resistance to the degradation by DNase I, small particle size and positive charge. Relatively strong red fluorescence could be detected in the lung cancer cells after transfection of miR155 MB, while that could not be detected in the RS MB group (P<0.05). Moreover, the changing trend in the fluorescence intensity was consistent with that in the miR-155 expression levels. Conclusion: CS nanoparticles can be used as vectors to deliver miR-155 MB for miR-155 identification and lung cancer cell imaging, thus providing new ideas and novel technique for lung cancer diagnosis.