Related Experiment Video
Updated: Feb 13, 2026

Cell Labeling and Targeting with Superparamagnetic Iron Oxide Nanoparticles
Published on: October 19, 2015
Surface functionalization dependent subcellular localization of Superparamagnetic nanoparticle in plasma membrane and
Deepak B Thimiri Govinda Raj1,2, Niamat Ali Khan3
1Envirotransgene® Bio-solutions Global Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India.
Abstract:
In this article, we elaborate the application of thermal decomposition based synthesis of Fe3O4 superparamagnetic nanoparticle (SPMNP) in subcellular fractionation context. Here, we performed surface functionalization of SPMNP with phospholipids and dimercaptosuccinic acid. Surprisingly, we observed surface functionalization dependent SPMNP localization in subcellular compartments such as plasma membrane, endosomes and lysosomes. By using SPMNP based subcellular localization with pulse-chase methodology, we could use SPMNP for high pure-high yield organelle (plasma membrane, endosomes and lysosome) fractionation. Further, SPMNP that are distinctly localized in subcellular compartments can be used as technology for subcellular fractionation that can complement existing tools for cell biology research. As a future perspective, isolated magnetic organelles can be extended to protein/protein complex purification for biochemical and structural biology studies.
Related Concept Videos
Enlargement of the Plasma Membrane
Plasma Membrane in Bacteria and Archaea
Surface Membrane Barriers
The outer layer of the skin, the epidermis, is a robust barrier comprising layers of closely packed keratinized cells. This dense arrangement prevents microbes from penetrating the body. The periodic shedding of epidermal cells...
Fusion of Secretory Vesicles with the Plasma Membrane
In 1993, Jim Rothman proposed that the antiparallel pairing of vesicular and transmembrane SNAREs, or...
Maturation of Endosomes
Changes in location
The maturing endosome moves along microtubules from the periphery of the cell towards the perinuclear region. This movement of the...
Contact-dependent Signaling
Gap Junctions
In animal cells, gap junctions are formed...

