title: iRGD peptide as effective transporter of CuInZnxS2+x quantum dots into human cancer cells.
abstract: In this paper, iRGD peptide-mediated quantum dots (QDs) delivery was studied. In the first step, dodecanethiol-capped CuInZnxS2+x (ZCIS) QDs were prepared and subsequently transferred into water using a standard and facile ligand exchange approach involving 3-mercaptopropionic acid (MPA). ZCIS@MPA nanocrystals possess a photoluminescence quantum yield (PL QY) of 25%, a PL emission centered at ca. 640nm and low distributions in size and shape. Next, the iRGD peptide was electrostatically associated to ZCIS@MPA QDs. After cytotoxicity evaluation, the tumor-targeting and penetrating activities of the iRGD/QD assembly were investigated by confocal microscopy. The experiments performed on various cancer cell lines revealed a high penetration ability of the assembly, while the bare QDs were not internalized. Additionally, imaging experiments were conducted on three-dimensional multicellular tumor spheroids in order to mimic the tumor microenvironment in vivo. iRGD/QD assemblies were found to be evenly distributed throughout the whole HeLa spheroid contrary to normal cells where they were not present. Therefore, iRGD/QD assemblies have a great potential to be used as targeted imaging agents and/or nanocarriers specific to cancer cells.
authors.affiliation: NanoBioMedical Centre, Adam Mickiewicz University, Umultowska 85, 61-614 Poznań, Poland. Electronic address: lucprz@amu.edu.pl.
authors.forename: Łucja
authors.initials: Ł
authors.lastname: Przysiecka
authors.affiliation: NanoBioMedical Centre, Adam Mickiewicz University, Umultowska 85, 61-614 Poznań, Poland.
authors.forename: Martyna
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Michalska
authors.affiliation: NanoBioMedical Centre, Adam Mickiewicz University, Umultowska 85, 61-614 Poznań, Poland.
authors.forename: Grzegorz
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Nowaczyk
authors.affiliation: NanoBioMedical Centre, Adam Mickiewicz University, Umultowska 85, 61-614 Poznań, Poland.
authors.forename: Barbara
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Peplińska
authors.affiliation: Institute of Chemical Technology and Engineering, Poznan University of Technology, Berdychowo 4, 60-695 Poznań, Poland.
authors.forename: Teofil
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Jesionowski
authors.affiliation: Université de Lorraine, Laboratoire Réactions et Génie des Procédés (LRGP), UMR 7274, CNRS, 1 rue Grandville, BP 20451, 54001 Nancy, Cedex, France.
authors.forename: Raphaël
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Schneider
authors.affiliation: NanoBioMedical Centre, Adam Mickiewicz University, Umultowska 85, 61-614 Poznań, Poland; Department of Macromolecular Physics, Faculty of Physics, Adam Mickiewicz University, Umultowska 85, 61-614 Poznań, Poland.
authors.forename: Stefan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Jurga
mesh_terms: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology; D001859:Bone Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology; D049109:Cell Proliferation / Q000187:drug effects; D003300:Copper / Q000737:chemistry*; D004337:Drug Carriers / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000737:chemistry*; D005260:Female; D006367:HeLa Cells; D006801:Humans; D007811:Lanthanum / Q000737:chemistry*; D046529:Microscopy, Electron, Transmission; D009842:Oligopeptides / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000737:chemistry*; D012516:Osteosarcoma / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology; D045663:Quantum Dots; D018874:Spheroids, Cellular; D013440:Sulfides / Q000737:chemistry*; D014407:Tumor Cells, Cultured; D017967:Zinc Compounds / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D004337:Drug Carriers; C569656:N-end cysteine peptide tumor-homing peptide; D009842:Oligopeptides; D013440:Sulfides; D017967:Zinc Compounds; D007811:Lanthanum; D003300:Copper; C031238:zinc sulfide
keywords: Cell labelling; CuInZn(x)S(2+x) QDs; Tumor spheroids; Tumor-targeted delivery; iRGD peptide