Resonance Raman spectral imaging of intracellular uptake of β-carotene loaded poly(D,L-lactide-co-glycolide) nanoparticles.
The use of nanoparticles for drug delivery has been drawing considerable attention in pharmaceutical research. With increasing diversity and potential of various carrier systems, it is important to study the impact of nanocarriers on sub-cellular metabolic processes and organelles, since the delivery of a drug usually involves intra-cellular internalization. Herein, we employ Raman microscopy as a non-invasive method for cellular and sub-cellular imaging, to monitor the uptake and translocation patterns of particles based on poly(D,L-lactide-co-glycolide) over time. As the technique detects inherent signals from the molecules of interest, it does not rely on external labels or dyes, which is an advantage over fluorescence labeling. For this purpose, the particles were loaded with β-carotene. The conjugated π-system of the molecule has a large Raman scattering cross-section and gives rise to resonance Raman effects, which can enhance the sensitivity by orders of magnitude. β-Carotene as a provitamin is not soluble in water and is thus usually of low bioavailability, which is enhanced by encapsulation into the nanoparticles.
Institute of Photonic Technology (IPHT) Jena, Albert-Einstein-Strasse 9, 07745 Jena, Germany.
Christian
C
Matthäus
Stephanie
S
Schubert
Michael
M
Schmitt
Christoph
C
Krafft
Benjamin
B
Dietzek
Ulrich S
US
Schubert
Jürgen
J
Popp
D000465:Algorithms; D000818:Animals; D018929:Cell Culture Techniques; D004337:Drug Carriers / Q000737:chemistry*; D004705:Endocytosis / Q000502:physiology; D019344:Lactic Acid / Q000737:chemistry*; D051379:Mice; D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; D041681:NIH 3T3 Cells; D053758:Nanoparticles / Q000737:chemistry*; D010316:Particle Size; D011100:Polyglycolic Acid / Q000737:chemistry*; D000077182:Polylactic Acid-Polyglycolic Acid Copolymer; D025341:Principal Component Analysis; D013059:Spectrum Analysis, Raman / Q000379:methods*; D013997:Time Factors; D019207:beta Carotene / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000737:chemistry
D004337:Drug Carriers; D019207:beta Carotene; D000077182:Polylactic Acid-Polyglycolic Acid Copolymer; D011100:Polyglycolic Acid; D019344:Lactic Acid