Bringing macromolecules into cells and evading endosomes by oxidized carbon nanoparticles

Area of Science:

• Nanotechnology
• Biomedical Engineering
• Cell Biology

Background:

• Developing safe and efficient methods for delivering molecules across cell membranes is a significant challenge.
• Existing methods like viral vectors and electroporation have drawbacks including toxicity, lysosome trapping, and cell damage.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the potential of a novel oxidized carbon nanoparticle as a safe and effective cellular delivery vehicle.
• To evaluate the nanoparticle's ability to deliver macromolecules into cells without lysosomal entrapment.

Main Methods:

• Preparation of a non-toxic, water-dispersible, negatively charged oxidized carbon nanoparticle from graphite.
• Demonstration of the nanoparticle's ability to induce transient pores in liposome membranes.
• Delivery of peptide nucleic acids (PNAs) into RAW 264.7 macrophage cells and assessment of gene silencing efficacy.

Main Results:

• The carbon nanoparticles successfully delivered macromolecules into cells without lysosomal trapping.
• The nanoparticles induced transient pores in lipid bilayer membranes.
• Delivered acpcPNAs accumulated in the nucleus, leading to decreased Il6 mRNA and IL-6 protein levels.

Conclusions:

• Oxidized carbon nanoparticles offer a promising, non-toxic platform for intracellular delivery of therapeutic molecules.
• The nanoparticle's ability to create transient membrane pores represents a novel mechanism for drug delivery.
• This approach could lead to new strategies for treating diseases by targeting specific genes within cells.