Transferrin-mediated gold nanoparticle cellular uptake.
Targeted drug delivery is an important research area in specific therapy. Transferrin-conjugated nanoparticles are an attractive formulation as a vehicle for specific cellular uptake and targeted drug delivery. In this report, atomic force microscopy imaging was used to visualize the process of cellular uptake of transferrin-coupled gold nanoparticles on the surfaces of live cells for the first time. High-resolution images were captured, showing the endocytosis of transferrin-conjugated nanoparticles taking place during the process of internalization. This specific transferrin-mediated nanoparticle uptake was validated by confocal scanning imaging and transferrin competition experiments.
Yang
Pei-Hui
PH
Department of Chemistry and Open Laboratory of Chemical Biology, University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong.
Sun
Xuesong
X
Chiu
Jen-Fu
JF
Sun
Hongzhe
H
He
Qing-Yu
QY
D001692:Biological Transport; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D006046:Gold / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D018625:Microscopy, Atomic Force; D018613:Microscopy, Confocal; D049329:Nanostructures / Q000648:ultrastructure; D014168:Transferrin / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000648:ultrastructure
D014168:Transferrin; D006046:Gold