Bioconjugated fluorescent polymeric nanoparticles for imaging and targeted therapy of HER2-overexpressing cancer cells.

We report the development of Herceptin-conjugated fluorescent polymeric nanoparticles (PNp) probes. Synthesis of fluorescent conjugated polymer as the core, preparation of the core/shell PNp, the ability of immobilizing Herceptin on PNp, targeting and imaging of bioconjugated PNp toward HER2-overexpressing cancer cells, and therapeutic effect on cell cycle, together with the expression of apoptosis related proteins, were investigated. We have achieved active tumor targeting by rapid PNp-antibody binding to tumor-specific antigens. Besides, Herceptin-conjugated PNp can suppress the growth of HER2-overexpressing cancer cells. © Springer Science+Business Media, LLC 2011