Cellular uptake pathway and drug release characteristics of drug-encapsulated glycol chitosan nanoparticles in live cells.
Herein, we evaluated the cellular uptake pathways of hydrophobically modified glycol chitosan (HGC) nanoparticles as nano-sized drug carriers using cellular imaging technology. The endocytic pathway of nanocarriers for intracellular drug delivery is of great interest for the design of high efficacy delivery carriers for therapeutic agents. To evaluate the cellular uptake pathways of HGC nanoparticles, HGC was chemically labeled with near infrared (NIR) fluorescence dye, Cy5.5, to visualize the nanoparticle under confocal laser scanning microscopy. The internalization pathways of HGC nanoparticles were evaluated after treatment of specific endocytosis inhibitors. Importantly, HCG nanoparticles showed different cellular uptake efficiency and intracellular fate in cytoplasm according to the internalization pathways. Furthermore, drug distribution also evaluated according to the endocytic pathways after treatment of drug encapsulated HGC nanoparticles. As a model drug, fluorescent photosensitizer, Ce6, was encapsulated into HGC (Ce6-HGC) nanoparticles and the distribution of Ce6 in cytoplasm was evaluated using confocal laser scanning microscopy. The intracellular drug distribution showed different manner through specific endocytic pathways. The cellular imaging technology is highly useful for evaluation of endocytosis pathways and intracellular fate of drug delivery carrier which are closely related to drug distribution and therapeutic efficacy.
Biomedical Research Center, Korea Institute of Science and Technology, 39-1 Hawolgok-dong, Seongbuk-gu, Seoul 136-791, Republic of Korea.
Sangjin
S
Park
So Jin
SJ
Lee
Hyunjin
H
Chung
Songwook
S
Her
Yongseok
Y
Choi
Kwangmeyung
K
Kim
Kuiwon
K
Choi
Ick Chan
IC
Kwon
D001692:Biological Transport; D002477:Cells / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism*; D048271:Chitosan / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000378:metabolism*; D004337:Drug Carriers / Q000737:chemistry*; D004339:Drug Compounding; D016503:Drug Delivery Systems; D004705:Endocytosis; D049452:Green Fluorescent Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D006367:HeLa Cells; D006801:Humans; D007700:Kinetics; D018613:Microscopy, Confocal; D053758:Nanoparticles / Q000737:chemistry*; D017319:Photosensitizing Agents / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism
D004337:Drug Carriers; D017319:Photosensitizing Agents; C118638:glycol-chitosan; D049452:Green Fluorescent Proteins; D048271:Chitosan