Synthesis, Characterization and Applications of Carboxylated and Polyethylene-glycolated Bifunctionalized InP/ZnS Quantum Dots in Cellular Internalization Mediated by Cell-penetrating Peptides

Abstract

Semiconductor nanoparticles, also known as quantum dots (QDs), are widely used in biomedical imaging studies and pharmaceutical research. Cell-penetrating peptides (CPPs) are a group of small peptides that are able to traverse cell membrane and deliver a variety of cargoes into living cells. CPPs deliver QDs into cells with minimal nonspecific absorption and toxic effect. in this study, water-soluble, monodisperse, carboxyl-functionalized indium phosphide (InP)/zinc sulfide (ZnS) QDs coated with polyethylene glycol lipids (designated QInP) were synthesized for the first time. the physicochemical properties (optical absorption, fluorescence and charging state) and cellular internalization of QInP and CPP/QInP complexes were characterized. CPPs noncovalently interact with QInP in vitro to form stable CPP/QInP complexes, which can then efficiently deliver QInP into human A549 cells. the introduction of 500. nM of CPP/QInP complexes and QInP at concentrations of less than 1. μM did not reduce cell viability. These results indicate that carboxylated and polyethylene-glycolylated (PEGylated) bifunctionalized QInP are biocompatible nanoparticles with potential for use in biomedical imaging studies and drug delivery applications.

Department(s)

Chemistry

Second Department

Biological Sciences

Keywords and Phrases

Biocompatible nanoparticles; Cell-penetrating peptide; Cellular internalization; Drug delivery applications; Functionalizations; Pegylated; Physicochemical property; Semiconductor nanoparticles, Biocompatibility; Cell membranes; Cytology; Drug delivery; Indium sulfide; Medical imaging; Nanoparticles; Peptides; Polyethylenes; Zinc sulfide, Semiconductor quantum dots, carboxyl group; cell penetrating peptide; indium phosphide; polyethylene; polyethylene glycol lipid; quantum dot; unclassified drug; water; zinc sulfide; cell penetrating peptide; indium; indium phosphide; macrogol derivative; phosphine derivative; quantum dot; sulfide; zinc derivative; zinc sulfide, absorption; article; biocompatibility; biomedicine; cell strain; cell strain A549; cell viability; chemical analysis; chemical interaction; chemical modification; chemical parameters; chemical procedures; concentration (parameters); controlled study; covalent bond; drug delivery system; fluorescence; human; human cell; in vitro study; internalization; photoluminescence; physical chemistry; priority journal; solubility; synthesis; cell fractionation; chemistry; drug effects; endocytosis; intracellular space; metabolism; synthesis; tumor cell line, Cell Line, Tumor; Cell-Penetrating Peptides; Endocytosis; Humans; Indium; Intracellular Space; Phosphines; Polyethylene Glycols; Quantum Dots; Subcellular Fractions; Sulfides; Zinc Compounds

International Standard Serial Number (ISSN)

0927-7765

Document Type

Article - Journal

Document Version

Citation

File Type

text

Language(s)

English

Rights

© 2013 Elsevier, All rights reserved.

Publication Date

01 Nov 2013

Link to Full Text

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