Multifunctional Magnetic CuS/Gd2O3 Nanoparticles for Fluorescence/Magnetic Resonance Bimodal Imaging-Guided Photothermal-Intensified Chemodynamic Synergetic Therapy of Targeted Tumors.

Chemodynamic therapy (CDT), which consumes endogenous hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) to generate reactive oxygen species (ROS) and causes oxidative damage to tumor cells, shows tremendous promise for advanced cancer treatment. However, the rate of ROS generation based on the Fenton reaction is prone to being restricted by inadequate H2O2 and unattainable acidity in the hypoxic tumor microenvironment. We herein report a multifunctional nanoprobe (BCGCR) integrating bimodal imaging and photothermal-enhanced CDT of the targeted tumor, which is produced by covalent conjugation of bovine serum albumin-stabilized CuS/Gd2O3 nanoparticles (NPs) with the Cy5.5 fluorophore and the tumor-targeting ligand RGD. BCGCR exhibits intense near-infrared (NIR) fluorescence and acceptable r1 relaxivity (∼15.3 mM-1 s-1) for both sensitive fluorescence imaging and high-spatial-resolution magnetic resonance imaging of tumors in living mice. Moreover, owing to the strong NIR absorbance from the internal CuS NPs, BCGCR can generate localized heat and displays a high photothermal conversion efficiency (30.3%) under 980 nm laser irradiation, which enables photothermal therapy and further intensifies ROS generation arising from the Cu-induced Fenton-like reaction for enhanced CDT. This synergetic effect shows such an excellent therapeutic efficacy that it can ablate xenografted tumors in vivo. We believe that this strategy will be beneficial to exploring other advanced nanomaterials for the clinical application of multimodal imaging-guided synergetic cancer therapies.

Glass-patternable notch-shaped microwave architecture for on-chip spin detection in biological samples.

We report a notch-shaped coplanar microwave waveguide antenna on a glass plate designed for on-chip detection of optically detected magnetic resonance (ODMR) of fluorescent nanodiamonds (NDs). A lithographically patterned thin wire at the center of the notch area in the coplanar waveguide realizes a millimeter-scale ODMR detection area (1.5 × 2.0 mm2) and gigahertz-broadband characteristics with low reflection (∼8%). The ODMR signal intensity in the detection area is quantitatively predictable by numerical simulation. Using this chip device, we demonstrate a uniform ODMR signal intensity over the detection area for cells, tissue, and worms. The present demonstration of a chip-based microwave architecture will enable scalable chip integration of ODMR-based quantum sensing technology into various bioassay platforms.