Cell imaging: Albumin Nanoshell Encapsulation of Near‐Infrared‐Excitable Rare‐Earth Nanoparticles Enhances Biocompatibility and Enables Targeted Cell Imaging (Small 15/2010)

The cover image illustrates cell-targetable, albumin nanoshells encapsulating rare-earth-doped nanoparticles ((RE)ANSs) that are capable of generating upconversion fluorescence after near-infrared irradiation. The formation of (RE)ANSs creates water-dispersible composite particles that can be subsequently functionalized with tumor-targeting peptides, which can then preferentially bind to integrin receptors expressed on U87 human glioblastoma cells. The yellow signal seen in the tumor-targeting image represents colocalization of the autofluorescent albumin nanoshell (green) and the encapsulated rare-earth nanoparticles (red). These findings highlight the promise of (RE)ANSs for imaging cancer in vitro and the potential for targeting imaging of cancer sites in vivo. For more information, please read the Full Paper “Albumin Nanoshell Encapsulation of Near-Infrared-Excitable Rare-Earth Nanoparticles Enhances Biocompatibility and Enables Targeted Cell Imaging” by P. V. Moghe and co-workers, beginning on page 1631.