Multiple functionalization of fluorescent nanoparticles for specific biolabeling and drug delivery of dopamine.
The development of fluorescent biolabels for specific targeting and controlled drug release is of paramount importance in biological applications due to their potential in the generation of novel tools for simultaneous diagnosis and treatment of diseases. Dopamine is a neurotransmitter involved in several neurological diseases, such as Parkinson's disease and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), and the controlled delivery of its agonists already proved to have beneficial effects both in vitro and in vivo. Here, we report the synthesis and multiple functionalization of highly fluorescent CdSe/CdS quantum rods for specific biolabeling and controlled drug release. After being transferred into aqueous media, the nanocrystals were made highly biocompatible through PEG conjugation and covered by a carbohydrate shell, which allowed specific GLUT-1 recognition. Controlled attachment of dopamine through an ester bond also allowed hydrolysis by esterases, yielding a smart nanotool for specific biolabeling and controlled drug release.
National Nanotechnology Laboratory of CNR-NANO, via per Arnesano km 5, 73100, Lecce, Italy.
Maria Ada
MA
Malvindi
Riccardo
R
Di Corato
Annalisa
A
Curcio
Daniela
D
Melisi
Maria Grazia
MG
Rimoli
Claudia
C
Tortiglione
Angela
A
Tino
Chandramohan
C
George
Virgilio
V
Brunetti
Roberto
R
Cingolani
Teresa
T
Pellegrino
Andrea
A
Ragusa
D001289:Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity / Q000188:drug therapy*; D002104:Cadmium / Q000737:chemistry; D019187:Cadmium Compounds / Q000737:chemistry; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D004298:Dopamine / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D015259:Dopamine Agents / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D016503:Drug Delivery Systems / Q000379:methods*; D005456:Fluorescent Dyes / Q000737:chemistry; D051272:Glucose Transporter Type 1 / Q000819:agonists / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D010300:Parkinson Disease / Q000188:drug therapy*; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols / Q000737:chemistry; D045663:Quantum Dots; D012643:Selenium / Q000737:chemistry; D013194:Staining and Labeling / Q000379:methods; D013440:Sulfides / Q000737:chemistry
D019187:Cadmium Compounds; D015259:Dopamine Agents; D005456:Fluorescent Dyes; D051272:Glucose Transporter Type 1; C495677:SLC2A1 protein, human; D013440:Sulfides; D002104:Cadmium; C034939:cadmium sulfide; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols; D012643:Selenium; D004298:Dopamine