Cancer-targeted functional gold nanoparticles for apoptosis induction and real-time imaging based on FRET

Abstract

A versatile gold nanoparticle-based multifunctional RB-DEVD-AuNP-DTP has been developed to induce the targeted apoptosis of cancer cells and image in real time the progress of the apoptosis. The multifunctional nanoparticles were demonstrated to have the ability to initiate mitochondria-dependent apoptosis and activate caspase-3 for real-time imaging of the progression of apoptosis.