Synthesis and application of a targeting diagnosis system via quantum dots coated by amphiphilic polymer for the detection of liver cancer cells

Water‐soluble quantum dots (QDs) for liver cancer diagnosis were prepared using QDs with oleylamine ligand coated with poly(aspartate)–graft–poly(ethylene glycol)–dodecylamine (PASP–Na–g–PEG–DDA). Dynamic light scattering and transmission electron microscopy imaging showed that the novel QDs have an ellipsoidal morphology with a size of ~ 45 nm which could be used for biomedical application. Furthermore, the PASP–Na–g–PEG–DDA was then modified with anti‐(vascular endothelial growth factor) (VEGF antibody), and a 1‐(4,5‐dimethylthiazol‐2‐yl)‐3,5‐diphenylformazan (MTT) assay showed that the novel anti‐VEGF‐targeting QDs in vitro had low toxicity. Confocal laser scanning microscopy observations revealed an intracellular (HepG2) distribution of the novel anti‐VEGF‐targeting QDs and the targeting efficiency of anti‐VEGF. These novel QDs could be used as a probe for liver cancer cell imaging because of anti‐VEGF targeting. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.