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.

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

Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 License.

Publication Date

01 Sep 2010

PubMed ID

21048930

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