Protonated Nanoparticle Surface Governing Ligand Tethering and Cellular Targeting

Nanoparticles have shown tremendous potential for effective drug delivery due to their tiny size and cell membrane penetration capabilities. Cellular targeting with nanoparticles is often achieved by surface modifications followed by ligand conjugation. However, the efficiency of the nanoparticles r...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:ACS nano 2009-05, Vol.3 (5), p.1203-1211
Main Authors: Vincent, Abhilash, Babu, Suresh, Heckert, Eric, Dowding, Janet, Hirst, Suzanne M, Inerbaev, Talgat M, Self, William T, Reilly, Christopher M, Masunov, Artëm E, Rahman, Talat S, Seal, Sudipta
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Cerium - chemistry
Crystallization - methods
Drug Carriers - chemistry
Drug Delivery Systems - methods
Ligands
Macromolecular Substances - chemistry
Molecular Conformation
Nanostructures - chemistry
Nanostructures - therapeutic use
Nanostructures - ultrastructure
Nanotechnology - methods
Particle Size
Protons
Surface Properties
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Summary:Nanoparticles have shown tremendous potential for effective drug delivery due to their tiny size and cell membrane penetration capabilities. Cellular targeting with nanoparticles is often achieved by surface modifications followed by ligand conjugation. However, the efficiency of the nanoparticles reaching the target cells and getting internalized depends on the stability of targeting ligands and the chemical nature of the ligand nanoparticle binding. Recent advancements in nanobiomaterials research have proven the superoxide dismutase (SOD) mimetic activity of cerium oxide nanoparticles (CNPs) in protecting cells against oxidative stress. Due to their excellent biocompatibility, CNPs can be used as a potential drug carrier that can transport and release drugs to the malignant sites. Here we combine single molecule force spectroscopy (SMFS) and density functional theory (DFT) simulations to understand the interaction between transferrin, a ligand protein overexpressed in cancer cells, and CNPs. SMFS studies demonstrate an increase in the transferrin adhesion to the nanoparticles’ surface with an increase in positive ζ potential of CNPs. Binding energy values obtained from DFT calculations predict an increase in bond strength between the transferrin and CNPs upon surface protonation and charge modification. Transferrin-conjugated CNPs were tested for their binding stability and preferential cellular uptake efficiency by incubating them with human lung cancer cells (A549) and normal embryo lung cells (WI-38). The results demonstrate the importance of tuning the surface properties of nanoparticles for better ligand adsorption and cellular uptake.
ISSN:1936-0851
1936-086X
DOI:10.1021/nn9000148