title: Are Fluorescent Organic Nanoparticles Relevant Tools for Tracking Cancer Cells or Macrophages?
abstract: Strongly solvatochromic fluorophores are devised, containing alkyl chains and enable to self-assemble as very bright fluorescent organic nanoparticles (FONs) in water (Φf = 0.28). The alkyl chains impart each fluorophore with strongly hydrophobic surroundings, causing distinct emission colors between FONs where the fluorophores are associated, and their disassembled state. Such color change is harnessed to assess the long-term fate of FONs in both cancer cells and monocytes/macrophages. Disintegration of the orange-emitting FONs by monocytes/macrophages is evidenced through the formation of micrometer green-yellowish emitting vesicles. By contrast, cancer cells retain longer the integrity of organic nanoparticles. In both cases, no significant toxicity is detected, making FONs as valuable bioimaging agents for cell tracking with weak risks of deleterious accumulation and low degradation rate.
authors.affiliation: CEISAM-UMR CNRS 6230, Université de Nantes, 2 rue de la Houssinière, 44322, Nantes, France.
authors.forename: Adrien
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Faucon
authors.affiliation: UFIP-UMR CNRS 6286, Université de Nantes, 2 rue de la Houssinière, 44322, Nantes, France.
authors.forename: Houda
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Benhelli-Mokrani
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, San Borja Arriaran University Hospital-Faculty of Dentistry, University of Chile-CONICYT, Sergio Livingstone Polhammer 943, 8380000, Santiago, Chile.|INSERM, UMR957, Equipe Ligue 2012, Université de Nantes, Faculté de Médecine, 1 rue Gaston Veil, 44035, Nantes, France.
authors.forename: Luis A
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Córdova
authors.affiliation: INSERM, UMR957, Equipe Ligue 2012, Université de Nantes, Faculté de Médecine, 1 rue Gaston Veil, 44035, Nantes, France.
authors.forename: Bénédicte
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Brulin
authors.affiliation: INSERM, UMR957, Equipe Ligue 2012, Université de Nantes, Faculté de Médecine, 1 rue Gaston Veil, 44035, Nantes, France.
authors.forename: Dominique
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Heymann
authors.affiliation: INSERM UMS 016-UMS CNRS 3556, 8 quai Moncousu, 44007, Nantes, France.
authors.forename: Philippe
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Hulin
authors.affiliation: INSERM UMS 016-UMS CNRS 3556, 8 quai Moncousu, 44007, Nantes, France.
authors.forename: Steven
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Nedellec
authors.affiliation: CEISAM-UMR CNRS 6230, Université de Nantes, 2 rue de la Houssinière, 44322, Nantes, France.
authors.forename: Eléna
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Ishow
mesh_terms: D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D005456:Fluorescent Dyes / Q000737:chemistry*; D006801:Humans; D008264:Macrophages / Q000378:metabolism*; D009000:Monocytes / Q000378:metabolism; D053758:Nanoparticles / Q000737:chemistry*; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism*; D014867:Water / Q000737:chemistry
chemical_list: D005456:Fluorescent Dyes; D014867:Water
keywords: biodegradation; bioimaging; cancer cells; fluorescent organic nanoparticles; monocytes/macrophages