title: Transferrin-conjugated nanodiamond as an intracellular transporter of chemotherapeutic drug and targeting therapy for cancer cells.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  PEGylated fluorescent nanodiamond (FND) conjugated with Tf (FND-PEG-Tf) was investigated for targeted drug delivery.
  
  
  METHODS
  Human hepatoma (HepG2) and normal (L-02) cell lines were used to investigate the difference in cellular uptake of FND-PEG-Tf and its loading drug system. Nanoparticle uptake was evaluated by flow cytometry and laser scanning confocal microscopy.
  
  
  RESULTS
  FND-PEG-Tf showed highly specific TfR-mediated uptake by HepG2 cells, relative to negative controls (L-02 cell), which was a strong correlation among TfR density on the cell surface. The mechanism of TfR-mediated uptake was attested by free Tf with Fe³⁺ as a competitive agent. The difference in cell viability between L-02 and HepG2 cells treated with doxorubicin hydrochloride (DOX) nanoparticles (FND-PEG-Tf-DOX) can be explained by FND-PEG-Tf, which can target drug delivery to cancer cells.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  FND-PEG-Tf can potentially be utilized in targeted cancer cell imaging and effective drug delivery for cancer therapy.
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Chemical Biology & Molecular Engineering of Ministry of Education, Institute of Molecular Science, Shanxi University, Taiyuan, 030006, PR China.
authors.forename: Dongxin
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Yingqi
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Zhimei
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Tian
authors.forename: Ruixia
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Cao
authors.forename: Binsheng
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Yang
mesh_terms: D002470:Cell Survival / Q000187:drug effects; D016503:Drug Delivery Systems; D006801:Humans; D058612:Nanodiamonds / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy*; D010316:Particle Size; D011990:Receptors, Transferrin / Q000502:physiology; D014168:Transferrin / Q000008:administration & dosage*
chemical_list: D058612:Nanodiamonds; D011990:Receptors, Transferrin; D014168:Transferrin