pH-stimuli-responsive near-infrared optical imaging nanoprobe based on poly(γ-glutamic acid)/poly(β-amino ester) nanoparticles.
pH-stimuli-responsive near-infrared optical imaging nanoprobes are designed and synthesized in this study in a facile one-step synthesis process based on the use of the biocompatible and biodegradable polymer poly(γ-glutamic acid) (γ-PGA)/poly(β-amino ester) (PBAE). PBAE has good transfection efficiency and promotes degradation properties under acidic conditions. This pH-responsive degradability can be used for the effective release of encapsulating materials after cellular uptake. As an optical imaging probe, indocyanine green (ICG) is an FDA-approved near-infrared fluorescent dye with a quenching property at a high concentration. In this regard, we focus here on the rapid degradation of PBAE in an acidic environment, in which the nanoparticles are disassembled. This allows the ICG dyes to show enhanced fluorescence signals after being releasing from the particles. We demonstrated this principle in cellular uptake experiments. We expect that the developed pH-stimuli-responsive smart nanoprobes can be applied in intracellular delivery signaling applications.
Graduate School and Department of Analytical Science and Technology, Chungnam National University, Yuseong-gu, Daejeon 305-764, Korea.
Hye Sun
HS
Park
Jung Eun
JE
Lee
Mi Young
MY
Cho
Young-Woock
YW
Noh
Moon Hee
MH
Sung
Haryoung
H
Poo
Kwan Soo
KS
Hong
Yong Taik
YT
Lim
D000818:Animals; D002460:Cell Line; D005456:Fluorescent Dyes / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D007208:Indocyanine Green / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D051379:Mice; D049329:Nanostructures / Q000737:chemistry*; D011099:Polyglutamic Acid / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000138:chemical synthesis / Q000737:chemistry; D011108:Polymers / Q000138:chemical synthesis / Q000737:chemistry*; D019265:Spectroscopy, Near-Infrared
D005456:Fluorescent Dyes; D011108:Polymers; C507253:poly(beta-amino ester); C511775:poly(gamma-glutamic acid); D011099:Polyglutamic Acid; D007208:Indocyanine Green