title: Multifunctional nanobeads based on quantum dots and magnetic nanoparticles: synthesis and cancer cell targeting and sorting.
abstract: Trifunctional polymer nanobeads are prepared by destabilization of a mixture of magnetic nanoparticles, quantum dots, and an amphiphilic polymer, followed by functionalization of the bead surface with folic acid molecules. The distribution of the nanoparticles within the nanobeads can be tuned using either acetonitrile or water as destabilizing solvent. The luminescence of the resulting beads can be tuned by varying the ratio of quantum dots per magnetic nanoparticles. The application of an external magnetic field (such as a small static magnet of 0.3 T) to the magnetic-fluorescent nanobeads allows the quantitative accumulation of the beads within a few hours depending on the total size of the beads. Furthermore, specific targeting of cancer cells overexpressing folate receptors is achieved thanks to the folic acid decorating the surface of the as-synthesized nanobeads. Folate receptor mediated cellular uptake of the folic acid-functionalized nanobeads is proven via both confocal imaging and transmission electron microscopy characterization. Cell sorting experiments performed with trifunctional nanobeads show quantitative recovering of targeted cells even when they are present at low percentage (up to 1%).
authors.affiliation: Nanoscience Institute of CNR, National Nanotechnology Laboratory, Via Arnesano 16, 73100 Lecce, Italy.
authors.forename: Riccardo
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Di Corato
authors.forename: Nadja C
authors.initials: NC
authors.lastname: Bigall
authors.forename: Andrea
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ragusa
authors.forename: Dirk
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Dorfs
authors.forename: Alessandro
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Genovese
authors.forename: Roberto
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Marotta
authors.forename: Liberato
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Manna
authors.forename: Teresa
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Pellegrino
mesh_terms: D001692:Biological Transport; D002469:Cell Separation / Q000379:methods*; D005021:Ethylamines / Q000737:chemistry; D005456:Fluorescent Dyes / Q000737:chemistry; D005492:Folic Acid / Q000737:chemistry; D006801:Humans; D007624:KB Cells; D008280:Magnetics; D018613:Microscopy, Confocal; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology*; D045663:Quantum Dots; D013050:Spectrometry, Fluorescence; D013499:Surface Properties
chemical_list: D005021:Ethylamines; D005456:Fluorescent Dyes; D005492:Folic Acid; C041564:ethylamine