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Targeted silver nanoparticles for ratiometric cell phenotyping
Anne-Mari A Willmore1, Lorena Simón-Gracia1, Kadri Toome1
1Laboratory of Cancer Biology, Institute of Biomedicine and Translational Medicine, University of Tartu, Ravila 14B, Tartu, 50411, Estonia. tambet.teesalu@ut.ee.
Nanoscale
|December 10, 2015
Summary
Isotopically barcoded silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) can identify cell surface receptors. This method accurately quantifies nanoparticle uptake, enabling cell line phenotyping for targeted therapies.
Area of Science:
- Nanotechnology
- Biomedical Engineering
- Cell Biology
Background:
- Affinity targeting with nanoparticles requires understanding cell receptor expression and accessibility.
- Accurate assessment of receptor-ligand interactions is crucial for effective targeted delivery.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop and validate isotopically barcoded silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) as a tool for auditing affinity ligand receptors on cells.
- To assess the binding and uptake of peptide-functionalized AgNPs in cancer cell lines.
Main Methods:
- Synthesized isotopically barcoded AgNPs functionalized with tumor-penetrating peptide RPARPAR (NRP-1 receptor) and tumor-homing peptide GKRK (p32 receptor).
- Incubated PPC-1 prostate cancer and M21 melanoma cells with a cocktail of barcoded AgNPs.
- Quantified cellular binding and internalization using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry and ratiometric measurements.
Main Results:
- Peptide-AgNP binding and uptake were dependent on cognate cell surface receptor expression.
- PPC-1 cells showed 75 ± 5% uptake of R-AgNPs (NRP-1 positive).
- M21 cells showed 89 ± 9% uptake of K-AgNPs (p32 positive).
Conclusions:
- Isotopically barcoded multiplexed AgNPs serve as an effective in vitro ratiometric phenotyping tool.
- This method accurately assesses accessible homing peptide receptor expression.
- Potential applications include in vivo evaluation of receptor accessibility for targeted therapies.
