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Facile Chemical Strategy to Hydrophobically Modify Solid Nanoparticles Using Inverted Micelle-Based Multicapsule for
Enrique A Daza1, Aaron S Schwartz-Duval1, Kimberly Volkman
1Biomedical Research Center, Carle Foundation Hospital, 502 North Busey Avenue, Urbana, Illinois 61801, United States.
ACS Biomaterials Science & Engineering
|January 9, 2021
Summary
We developed a simple, high-yield method for intracellular delivery of nanoparticles. This Nano-multicapsule (NMC) technique efficiently delivers both gold and carbon nanoparticles into cancer cells for theranostic applications.
Area of Science:
- Biomedical Engineering
- Nanotechnology
- Materials Science
Background:
- Theranostic nanoparticles offer visual confirmation of treatment efficacy but face clinical translation challenges due to complex synthesis and scalability.
- Current methods for nanoparticle synthesis and delivery often involve intricate chemistry and purification steps, hindering widespread application.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop a high-throughput, scalable, and simplified chemical strategy for intracellular delivery of solid organic and inorganic nanoparticles.
- To demonstrate the efficacy of the Nano-multicapsule (NMC) system for delivering gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) and carbon nanoparticles (CNPs) into human breast cancer cells.
Main Methods:
- A two-step chemical strategy involving inverted micelle transfer and subsequent packing of nanoparticles into soft-shelled lipid capsules (NMCs).
- Encapsulation of ~10 nm gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) and carbon nanoparticles (CNPs) into NMCs.
- Quantification of cellular internalization of NMC-encapsulated AuNPs and CNPs in a human breast cancer cell line using ICP-OES, TEM, and Raman spectroscopy.
Main Results:
- The NMC technique demonstrated high yield and avoided complex purification steps associated with hydrophobic modifications.
- Cells treated with encapsulated AuNPs (NMC-AuNP) showed significantly greater gold internalization compared to free AuNPs.
- Cells treated with encapsulated CNPs (NMC-CNP) exhibited high uptake and apparent intracellular localization, unlike free CNPs.
Conclusions:
- The developed Nano-multicapsule (NMC) strategy provides a high-throughput and scalable method for efficient intracellular delivery of diverse nanoparticles.
- This approach simplifies nanoparticle synthesis and delivery, overcoming key barriers to clinical translation for theranostic applications.
- The NMC system effectively enhances the cellular uptake of both inorganic (AuNPs) and organic (CNPs) nanoparticles, showing promise for theranostic applications.

