Citation: Qionglin Wang, Qiyan Lv, Yang Zhou, Weyland Cheng, Minghui Hu, Xiangzhan Zhu, Yaodong Zhang, Wancun Zhang. DNA-modified persistent luminescent nanoparticles with enhanced dispersion and targeting: A pH-activated nanoprobe for logic-gated tumor molecular imaging[J]. Chinese Chemical Letters, ;2026, 37(11): 112211. doi: 10.1016/j.cclet.2025.112211 shu

DNA-modified persistent luminescent nanoparticles with enhanced dispersion and targeting: A pH-activated nanoprobe for logic-gated tumor molecular imaging

Qionglin Wang ^{a, c} ,
Qiyan Lv ^b ,
Yang Zhou ^{a, c} ,
Weyland Cheng ^{a, c} ,
Minghui Hu ^a ,
Xiangzhan Zhu ^{c, d} ,
Yaodong Zhang ^{a, c} ,
Wancun Zhang ^{a, c, *,}

a.
Health Commission of Henan Province Key Laboratory for Precision Diagnosis and Treatment of Pediatric Tumor, Children's Hospital Affiliated to Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou 450018, China
b.
School of Life Sciences, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou 450001, China
c.
Henan Key Laboratory of Children's Genetics and Metabolic Diseases, Children's Hospital Affiliated to Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou 450018, China
d.
Henan Clinical Research Center of Childhood Diseases, Children's Hospital Affiliated to Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou 450018, China

zhangwancun@126.com

Received Date: 19 September 2025
Revised Date: 1 December 2025
Accepted Date: 3 December 2025
Available Online: 4 December 2025

Figures(5)

Disialoganglioside (GD2) is a key target for the diagnosis and treatment of multiple malignant tumors. However, the shortage of effective targeting probes for GD2 remains a major challenge in this field. This study developed a pH-activated targeted optical nanoprobe based on functional DNA-modified persistent luminescent nanoparticles (PLNPs), utilizing the targeting specificity of GD2 aptamers (Apt) and the pH-activated of Ⅰ-motif (IMO) structure, achieving sensitive and specific molecular imaging of neuroblastoma. First, Cr³⁺-doped amino-modified PLNPs (PLNPs-NH₂) with dual-mode imaging were synthesized using a hydrothermal method. Subsequently, an Apt@IMO nanostructure was designed and synthesized, and covalently modified on the surface of the PLNPs-NH₂ to enhance the dispersibility and imaging targeting of the nanoprobe PLNPs-Apt@IMO. Furthermore, in vitro experiments confirmed the specific binding of the GD2 aptamer to the neuroblastoma cell surface marker GD2 and the pH-responsive performance of the IMO structure. Finally, in vivo imaging experiments showed that the nanoprobe PLNPs-Apt@IMO effectively distinguishes tumors from normal tissues in animal models, indicating strong tumor specificity and significant imaging depth. It provides a new method for sensitive molecular imaging of neuroblastoma. In conclusion, this technology holds great promise for enhancing tumor resolution and assisting tumor resection surgery.
- GD2,
- Functional DNA,
- pH-activated,
- PLNPs,
- Dual-mode,
- Tumor molecular imaging
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