title: Solid Lipid Nanoparticles (SLNs) for Intracellular Targeting Applications.
abstract: Nanoparticle-based delivery vehicles have shown great promise for intracellular targeting applications, providing a mechanism to specifically alter cellular signaling and gene expression. In a previous investigation, the synthesis of ultra-small solid lipid nanoparticles (SLNs) for topical drug delivery and biomarker detection applications was demonstrated. SLNs are a well-studied example of a nanoparticle delivery system that has emerged as a promising drug delivery vehicle. In this study, SLNs were loaded with a fluorescent dye and used as a model to investigate particle-cell interactions. The phase inversion temperature (PIT) method was used for the synthesis of ultra-small populations of biocompatible nanoparticles. A 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenylphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay was utilized in order to establish appropriate dosing levels prior to the nanoparticle-cell interaction studies. Furthermore, primary human dermal fibroblasts and mouse dendritic cells were exposed to dye-loaded SLN over time and the interactions with respect to toxicity and particle uptake were characterized using fluorescence microscopy and flow cytometry. This study demonstrated that ultra-small SLNs, as a nanoparticle delivery system, are suitable for intracellular targeting of different cell types.
authors.affiliation: Research and Exploratory Development Department, The Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory.
authors.forename: Xiomara
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Calderón-Colón
authors.affiliation: Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine.
authors.forename: Giorgio
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Raimondi
authors.affiliation: Research and Exploratory Development Department, The Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory.
authors.forename: Jason J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Benkoski
authors.affiliation: Asymmetric Operations Sector, The Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory; julia.patrone@jhuapl.edu.
authors.forename: Julia B
authors.initials: JB
authors.lastname: Patrone