Two-photon imaging of lymphoma cells targeted by gold nanoparticles

Abstract

Gold nanoparticles (NPs) have highly efficient multi-photon-induced luminescence. In this paper, we record the two-photon images of gold NPs, lymphoma cell line Karpas 299, and Karpas 299 incubated with 30-nm-diameter gold NPs and ACT-1 antibody conjugates (Au30-ACT-1 conjugates) by using a multi-photon microscopy system. Due to the specific conjugation of ACT-1 antibody and cell membrane receptor CD25, gold NPs are only bound to the surface of cell membrane of Karpas 299. The luminescence intensity of gold NPs is higher than that of cells at 750-nm laser excitation. By comparing the images of Karpas 299 cells incubated with and without gold NPs, it is found that by means of gold NPs, we can get clear cell images with lower excitation power. Their excellent optical and chemical properties make gold NPs an attractive contrast agent for cellular imaging.