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Published on: February 8, 2017
Nanocrystal facet modulation to enhance transferrin binding and cellular delivery
Yu Qi1,2,3, Tong Zhang4, Chuanyong Jing2,3
1College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Pollution Processes and Environmental Criteria, Tianjin Key Laboratory of Environmental Remediation and Pollution Control, Nankai University, 38 Tongyan Rd., Tianjin, 300350, China.
Facet engineering of nanocrystals improves biomolecule binding for enhanced cellular targeting and uptake. This approach optimizes crystalline nanomaterial efficacy in biological applications.
Area of Science:
- Materials Science
- Nanotechnology
- Biomedical Engineering
Background:
- Effective biological applications of crystalline nanomaterials depend on biomolecule binding to crystal surfaces.
- Controlling nanocrystal surface properties is key to enhancing specific interactions for improved cellular delivery.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate facet engineering as a method to enhance specific nanocrystal-biomolecule associations.
- To improve cellular targeting and nanomaterial uptake by modulating exposed crystal facets.
Main Methods:
- Facet engineering of cadmium chalcogenide nanocrystals.
- Assessment of transferrin binding and cellular delivery into cancer cells.
- Competitive adsorption experiments and theoretical calculations.
- Molecular dynamics simulations to understand binding mechanisms.
Main Results:
- Facet engineering significantly enhanced transferrin binding to nanocrystals and their delivery into cancer cells.
- Specific crystal facets ((100) of cadmoselite and (002) of greenockite) showed preferential binding to transferrin via thiol complexation.
- Differential affinity of crystal facets to water molecules influences transferrin binding accessibility.
Conclusions:
- Modulating exposed crystal facets is a feasible strategy to improve nanocrystal-biomolecule interactions.
- Facet engineering enhances the efficacy of crystalline nanomaterials for targeted delivery and cellular uptake in biological systems.
