title: Quantum dot-carrier peptide conjugates suitable for imaging and delivery applications.
abstract: We developed multifunctional fluorescent nanoparticles suitable for the nonviral delivery of negatively charged molecules like RNA. Therefore, we incorporated the recently developed branched hCT-derived carrier peptide hCT(18-32)-k7 on the surface of luminescent quantum dots (QDs). Besides detailed characterization of our QD-peptide conjugates concerning stability, toxicity, and uptake mechanism. we used them for efficient RNA delivery into different cell lines. The results of our studies indicate the involvement of more than one endocytotic uptake pathway in the internalization process. Furthermore, we could show that the QD-peptide bioconjugates exhibit no effect on cell viability and possess high stability inside living cells. The efficacy of our newly designed constructs for oligonucleotide drug delivery is highlighted by the successful intracellular transport of Cy-3 labeled RNA. Moreover, by using the chemotherapeutic chloroquine the efficient release of the assemblies out of endosomes was demonstrated. These results prove that our multifunctional platforms are versatile tools for diagnostic and therapeutic imaging purposes applicable for biologically active siRNA or aptamer sequences.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Biochemistry, Faculty of Biosciences, Pharmacy and Psychology, University of Leipzig, Brüderstr. 34, 04103 Leipzig.
authors.forename: Cornelia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Walther
authors.forename: Karolin
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Meyer
authors.forename: Robert
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Rennert
authors.forename: Ines
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Neundorf
mesh_terms: D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D002116:Calcitonin / Q000138:chemical synthesis / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000633:toxicity; D002417:Cattle; D002460:Cell Line; D002738:Chloroquine / Q000737:chemistry; D003116:Color; D003593:Cytoplasm / Q000378:metabolism; D004058:Diffusion; D004705:Endocytosis / Q000187:drug effects; D018014:Gene Transfer Techniques; D006801:Humans; D008856:Microscopy, Fluorescence; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D009841:Oligonucleotides / Q000378:metabolism; D045663:Quantum Dots; D012313:RNA / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D009841:Oligonucleotides; D012313:RNA; D002738:Chloroquine; D002116:Calcitonin