Developing multimodal imaging platforms, based on colloidal nanocrystals such as luminescent quantum dots and plasmonic nanomaterials, to track live cells and tissue has been pursued by several groups. A major challenge is the lack of adequate and effective strategies to deliver these nanocrystals into the cytoplasm of live cells. We have designed a set of high affinity hydrophilic polymer ligands and tested them for the coating of various inorganic nanocrystals (e.g., luminescent quantum dots and Au nano-colloids). We have further introduced additional reactive groups for coupling the polymer-coated nanocrystals to specific cell targeting peptides or/and NMR-active labels.<br/>We report on the use of an anti-microbial peptide to promote the uptake of QDs, AuNPs and AuNRs into mammalian cells. Using fluorescence microscopy experiments, we found that incubation with these conjugates yielded nanocrystal staining throughout the cell volumes. Furthermore, uptake persisted under endocytosis inhibition conditions, such as incubation at low temperature and in the presence of hypertonic sucrose solution. These findings were further complemented with confocal microcopy and flow cytometry measurements. Overall, the imaging data support the hypothesis of physical translocation of these conjugates through the membrane rather than endocytosis.

Enhanced delivery of quantum dots and gold nanocrystals to live cells

2019 Spring National Meeting

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