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Published on: February 16, 2020
Interactions Between Antibody-Coated Iron Micro-Particles and Leukemic Cells as seen by Electron Microscopy
C J Bieva1, R Mosselmans2, F V Brugghen1
1a Dept. Hématologie, Service de Médicine Interne et Laboratoire d'Investigation Clinique H. Tagnon, Brussels, Belgium.
Abstract:
An electron microscopy study was performed to visualize the interactions between monoclonal antibodies (MoAbs) coated to ferromagnetic microparticles and leukemic cells. The properties of this specific reagent used for the efficient purging of residual leukemic cells from autografts before autologuous bone marrow transplantation (ABMT) have been previously reported. Incubation of a CD10+ NALM6- cell suspension with CD10 or CD8 MoAb conjugated particles was performed following a time-course schedule ranging from 0 to 90 min. at 4°C and 37°C. Transmission electron microscopy demonstrated that, although the CD10 MoAb-particles complex linked to the cell surface only at 4°C, they readily penetrated into cells at 37°C. In contrast, after incubation with CD8 MoAb-particles, no iron particles were seen at the cell surface, or within the cells no matter what the temperature and duration of the incubation were. This observation offers the unique opportunity to deliver a pharmaceutical agent crosslinked to the same magnetic carrier inside a cell, using an interesting site-specific drug delivery concept.
Insights
Monoclonal antibody-coated microparticles target leukemic cells. CD10 antibody-coated particles penetrate cells at 37°C, offering potential for targeted drug delivery in cancer therapy.
Area of Science:
- Biomedical Engineering
- Cell Biology
- Immunology
Background:
- Monoclonal antibodies (MoAbs) conjugated to ferromagnetic microparticles are used for purging leukemic cells from autografts.
- Previous studies have reported the properties of this reagent for autologous bone marrow transplantation (ABMT).
Purpose of the Study:
- To visualize the interaction between MoAb-coated ferromagnetic microparticles and leukemic cells using electron microscopy.
- To investigate the effect of temperature and incubation time on particle-cell interactions.
Main Methods:
- Transmission electron microscopy was employed to observe interactions.
- A CD10+ NALM6- cell suspension was incubated with CD10 or CD8 MoAb-conjugated particles.
- Incubation occurred over a time course (0-90 min) at 4°C and 37°C.
Main Results:
- CD10 MoAb-particles complexed with the cell surface at 4°C.
- At 37°C, CD10 MoAb-particles readily penetrated leukemic cells.
- CD8 MoAb-particles showed no interaction with cells at either temperature or duration.
Conclusions:
- Temperature-dependent cellular uptake of CD10 MoAb-conjugated microparticles was demonstrated.
- This suggests a potential for site-specific drug delivery by internalizing pharmaceutical agents linked to magnetic carriers.
- The CD8 MoAb-particle interaction was negligible, highlighting the specificity of the CD10-mediated uptake.

