10.1021/acs.nanolett.9b02483.s001 Cheng Lv Cheng Lv Tian-Yu Zhang Tian-Yu Zhang Yi Lin Yi Lin Man Tang Man Tang Cai-Hua Zhai Cai-Hua Zhai Hou-Fu Xia Hou-Fu Xia Ji Wang Ji Wang Zhi-Ling Zhang Zhi-Ling Zhang Zhi-Xiong Xie Zhi-Xiong Xie Gang Chen Gang Chen Dai-Wen Pang Dai-Wen Pang Transformation of Viral Light Particles into Near-Infrared Fluorescence Quantum Dot-Labeled Active Tumor-Targeting Nanovectors for Drug Delivery American Chemical Society 2019 noninfectious L-particles experience oncolytic virions tegument proteins tumor-targeted theranostics nanovector Near-Infrared Fluorescence Quantum Dot-Labeled fluorescence Ag 2 Se quantum dot vivo tumor imaging progeny virions tumor-targeting nanovectors internalization process ultrasmall water-dispersible NIR fluorescence Ag 2 Se QDs infection mechanism electroporation technique antitumor drug L-particle-based theranostic platforms light particles tumor cells Such multifunctional nanovectors Drug Delivery Nanosized oncolytic Viral Light Particles antitumor efficacy loading efficiency drug delivery Tumor-Targeting Nanovectors 2019-09-11 18:38:26 Journal contribution https://acs.figshare.com/articles/journal_contribution/Transformation_of_Viral_Light_Particles_into_Near-Infrared_Fluorescence_Quantum_Dot-Labeled_Active_Tumor-Targeting_Nanovectors_for_Drug_Delivery/9807842 Nanosized oncolytic viral light particles (L-particles), separated from progeny virions, are composed of envelopes and several tegument proteins of viruses, free of nucleocapsids. The noninfectious L-particles experience the same internalization process as mature oncolytic virions, which exhibits great potential to act as targeted therapeutic platforms. However, the clinical applications of L-particle-based theranostic platforms are rare due to the lack of effective methods to transform L-particles into nanovectors. Herein, a convenient and mild strategy has been developed to transform L-particles into near-infrared (NIR) fluorescence Ag<sub>2</sub>Se quantum dot (QD)-labeled active tumor-targeting nanovectors for real-time <i>in situ</i> imaging and drug delivery. Utilizing the electroporation technique, L-particles can be labeled with ultrasmall water-dispersible NIR fluorescence Ag<sub>2</sub>Se QDs with a labeling efficiency of <i>ca</i>. 85% and loaded with antitumor drug with a loading efficiency of <i>ca</i>. 87%. Meanwhile, by harnessing the infection mechanism of viruses, viral L-particles are able to recognize and enter tumor cells without further modification. In sum, a trackable and actively tumor-targeted theranostics nanovector can be obtained efficiently and simultaneously. Such multifunctional nanovectors transformed from viral L-particles have exhibited excellent properties of active tumor-targeting, <i>in vivo</i> tumor imaging, and antitumor efficacy, which opens a new window for the development of natural therapeutic nanoplatforms.