title: Transferrin-mediated gold nanoparticle cellular uptake.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry and Open Laboratory of Chemical Biology, University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong.
authors.forename: Pei-Hui
authors.initials: PH
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: Xuesong
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Sun
authors.forename: Jen-Fu
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Chiu
authors.forename: Hongzhe
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Sun
authors.forename: Qing-Yu
authors.initials: QY
authors.lastname: He
mesh_terms: 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
chemical_list: D014168:Transferrin; D006046:Gold