99mTc‐labeled oligomeric nanoparticles as potential agents for folate receptor‐positive tumor targeting.

One type of biocompatible nanoparticles functionalized with folate and 99mTc was successfully synthesized. Maleimide‐folic acid (Mal‐FA) was selected to covalently conjugate with ‐SH of the nanoparticles (<bold>NPs</bold>) to prepare <bold>NPs‐FA</bold> for targeting. 99mTc was selected to conjugate with ‐NH2 and ‐SH groups of cysteine residues on the surface of NPs to prepare <bold>NPs‐FA‐</bold><bold>99m</bold><bold>Tc</bold> for radioactive counting. The ability to target folate receptors of <bold>NPs‐FA‐</bold><bold>99m</bold><bold>Tc</bold> was assessed in uptake studies with folate‐receptor–positive human HepG2 cells. The results showed that the as‐prepared NPs can selectively uptake by folate receptor‐overexpressing HepG2 tumor cells in vitro. The oligomeric hybrid NPs radiolabeled with 99mTc may develop to be SPECT/CT imaging biomaterials with high selectivity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]