Nona-Arginine Facilitates Delivery of Quantum Dots into Cells via Multiple Pathways. (30th September 2010)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Xu, Yi; Liu, Betty Revon; Lee, Han-Jung; Shannon, Katie B.; Winiarz, Jeffrey G.; Wang, Tien-Chun; Chiang, Huey-Jenn; Huang, Yue-wern
• Other Names: Joshi Lokesh Academic Editor.
• Is Part Of: Journal of biomedicine and biotechnology. Volume 2010(2010)
• Publication Date: 2010-09-30
• Subjects: Medicine -- Periodicals; Biology -- Periodicals; Biotechnology -- Periodicals; Medicine; Biology; Biotechnology; Médecine; Biologie; Biotechnologie; Biology; Biotechnology; Medicine; Biotechnology; Biomedicine; Electronic journals; Periodical; Periodicals; Electronic journals; 610
• DOI: 10.1155/2010/948543
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1110-7243

Abstract

Abstract : Semiconductor quantum dots (QDs) have recently been used to deliver and monitor biomolecules, such as drugs and proteins. However, QDs alone have a low efficiency of transport across the plasma membrane. In order to increase the efficiency, we used synthetic nona-arginine (SR9), a cell-penetrating peptide, to facilitate uptake. We found that SR9 increased the cellular uptake of QDs in a noncovalent binding manner between QDs and SR9. Further, we investigated mechanisms of QD/SR9 cellular internalization. Low temperature and metabolic inhibitors markedly inhibited the uptake of QD/SR9, indicating that internalization is an energy-dependent process. Results from both the pathway inhibitors and the RNA interference (RNAi) technique suggest that cellular uptake of QD/SR9 is predominantly a lipid raft-dependent process mediated by macropinocytosis. However, involvement of clathrin and caveolin-1 proteins in transducing QD/SR9 across the membrane cannot be completely ruled out.