Magnetofluorescent Nanocomposites Integrating Magnetic Nanoparticles and Near Infrared Quantum Dots for Tumor Cell Targeting

In this work, we report the preparation of MFNCs integrating MnFe2O4 magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs), near infrared CuInS2/ZnS quantum dots (QDs) and poly (ethylene glycol)-b-poly (lactide-co-glycolide) (PEG-PLGA) in a tetrahydrofuran (THF)/water solvent system. It is found that the MFNCs possess high (Mn + Fe) recovery rates, and the optical properties and magnetic relaxivity of the MFNCs are tunable according to the MNP:QD mass ratios. Furthermore, the MFNCs present excellent capability for tumor cell targeting once they are conjugated with bioprobes specific to tumor cells. This study opens an avenue for the MFNCs to be employed in broad biological or biomedical applications.