In situ visual imaging of U14 head and neck squamous cell carcinoma xenograft tumors by near-infrared quantum dots-monoclonal antibody fluorescent probes

Abstract:

Objective：To study the in situ visual imaging of near-infrared quantum dots （NIRF-QDs） epidermal growth factor recep－tor monoclonal antibody（EGFR mAb） fluorescent probes on the U14 head and neck squamous cell carcinoma xenograft tumors. Methods：Epidermal growth factor receptor monoclonal antibodies were coupled to near-infrared fluorescent quantum dots （QD800） to prepare near-infrared fluorescent quantum dots-EGFR mAb probes（QD800-EGFR mAb）. The squamous cell carcinoma U14 with high expression of EGFR and QD800-EGFR mAb were cocultured to observe the combination in vitro；serial visual in vivo imaging of U14 head and neck squamous cell carcinoma xenograft tumors was done after intravenous injection of QD800-EGFR mAb. Results：Experiments in vitro showed that QD800-EGFR mAb could bind specifically to U14 cells.In vivo imaging showed that clear visu－al in situ fluorescence imaging of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma could be achieved after intravenous injection of QD800-EGFR mAb，and the fluorescence imaging lasted up to 24 h during which the most complete and highest signal to noise ratio of tumor in vivo imaging was in 1～6 h. Conclusion：EGFR target based near near-infrared quantum dots technique has unique advantages and prospects for the occurrence and development study，visual in situ imaging and individual treatment of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma.