title: Characterization of nanoparticle uptake by endothelial cells.
abstract: Endothelium is an important target for drug or gene therapy because of its important role in the biological system. In this paper, we have characterized nanoparticle uptake by endothelial cells in cell culture. Nanoparticles were formulated using poly DL-lactide-co-glycolide polymer containing bovine serum albumin as a model protein and 6-coumarin as a fluorescent marker. It was observed that the cellular uptake of nanoparticles depends on the time of incubation and the concentration of nanoparticles in the medium. The uptake of nanoparticles was rapid with confocal microscopy demonstrating their localization mostly in the cytoplasm. The mitogenic study demonstrated biocompatability of nanoparticles with the cells. The study thus demonstrates that nanoparticles could be used for localizing therapeutic agents or gene into endothelial cells. Nanoparticles localized in the endothelium could provide prolonged drug effects because of their sustained release characterics, and also could protect the encapsulated agent from enzymatic degradation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, 986025 Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE 68198-6025, USA.
authors.forename: Jasmine
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Davda
authors.forename: Vinod
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Labhasetwar
mesh_terms: D001672:Biocompatible Materials / Q000493:pharmacokinetics*; D002460:Cell Line; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D002851:Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; D004730:Endothelium, Vascular / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D019344:Lactic Acid / Q000493:pharmacokinetics; D018613:Microscopy, Confocal; D036103:Nanotechnology / Q000379:methods*; D010316:Particle Size; D011100:Polyglycolic Acid / Q000493:pharmacokinetics; D000077182:Polylactic Acid-Polyglycolic Acid Copolymer; D011108:Polymers / Q000493:pharmacokinetics
chemical_list: D001672:Biocompatible Materials; D011108:Polymers; D000077182:Polylactic Acid-Polyglycolic Acid Copolymer; D011100:Polyglycolic Acid; D019344:Lactic Acid