Abstract
Semiconductor quantum dots (QDs) have recently been used to deliver and monitor biomolecules, such as drugs and proteins. However, QDs alone have a low efficiency of transport across the plasma membrane. In order to increase the efficiency, we used synthetic nona-arginine (SR9), a cell-penetrating peptide, to facilitate uptake. We found that SR9 increased the cellular uptake of QDs in a noncovalent binding manner between QDs and SR9. Further, we investigated mechanisms of QD/SR9 cellular internalization. Low temperature and metabolic inhibitors markedly inhibited the uptake of QD/SR9, indicating that internalization is an energy-dependent process. Results from both the pathway inhibitors and the RNA interference (RNAi) technique suggest that cellular uptake of QD/SR9 is predominantly a lipid raft-dependent process mediated by macropinocytosis. However, involvement of clathrin and caveolin-1 proteins in transducing QD/SR9 across the membrane cannot be completely ruled out.
Recommended Citation
Y. Xu et al., "Nona-Arginine Facilitates Delivery of Quantum Dots into Cells Via Multiple Pathways," Journal of Biomedicine and Biotechnology, vol. 2010, Hindawi Publishing Corporation, Sep 2010.
The definitive version is available at https://doi.org/10.1155/2010/948543
Department(s)
Biological Sciences
Second Department
Chemistry
Keywords and Phrases
Arginine Derivative; Caveolin 1; Cell Penetrating Peptide; Clathrin; Nona Arginine; Quantum Dot; Unclassified Drug; Cadmium Derivative; Cadmium Selenide; Nonaarginine; Selenium Derivative; Small Interfering RNA; Sulfide; Zinc Derivative; Zinc Sulfide; Cell Membrane; Cell Metabolism; Controlled Study; Energy; Human; Human Cell; Inhibition Kinetics; Internalization; Lipid Raft; Low Temperature; RNA Interference; Signal Transduction; Drug Antagonism; Fluorescence Microscopy; Genetics; Metabolism; Methodology; Pinocytosis; Transport At the Cellular Level; Tumor Cell Line; Western Blotting; Biological Transport; Blotting, Western; Cadmium Compounds; Caveolins; Cell Line, Tumor; Clathrin Heavy Chains; Drug Delivery Systems; Humans; Microscopy, Fluorescence; Oligopeptides; RNA, Small Interfering; Selenium Compounds; Sulfides; Zinc Compounds
International Standard Serial Number (ISSN)
1110-7243;1110-7251
Document Type
Article - Journal
Document Version
Final Version
File Type
text
Language(s)
English
Rights
© 2010 The Authors, All rights reserved.
Creative Commons Licensing
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 License.
Publication Date
01 Sep 2010
PubMed ID
21048930
