Bioengineered Fluorescent Nanoprobe Conjugates for Tracking Human Bone Cells: In Vitro Biocompatibility Analysis

Herein, we validated novel functionalized hybrid semiconductor bioconjugates made of fluorescent quantum dots (QD) with the surface capped by chitosan (polysaccharide) and chemically modified with O-phospho-L-serine (OPS) that are biocompatible with different human cell sources. The conjugation with a directing signaling molecule (OPS) allows preferential accumulation in human bone mesenchymal stromal cells (HBMSC). The chitosan (Chi) shell with the fluorescent CdS core was characterized by spectroscopical (UV spectrophotometry and photoluminescence), by morphological techniques (Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM)) and showed small size (ø 2.3 nm) and a stable photoluminescence emission band. The in vitro biocompatibility results were not dependent on the polysaccharide chain length (Chi with higher and lower molecular weight) but were remarkably affected by the surface modification (Chi or Chi-OPS). In addition, the efficiency of nanoparticles uptake by the cells was dependent on cells nature (human primary cells or cell lines) and tissue source (bone or skin) in the presence or absence of the OPS modification. The complex cellular uptake pathways involved in the cell labeling with the nanoparticles do not interfere on the normal cellular biology (adhesion and proliferation), osteogenic differentiation, and gene expression. The bone cells particles uptake evaluation showed a possible pathway by Caveolin-1 that regulates cell transduction in the membrane’s Caveolae. Caveolae mediates non-specific endocytosis, and it is upregulated in HBMSC. The OPS-modified nanoparticles promoted an intense intracellular trafficking by the HBMSCs that showed late-osteoblast phenotype with an increase of extracellular matrix (ECM) mineralization (Alizarin red and Von Kossa staining for calcium phosphate crystals). In this work, the OPS modified bioconjugated QD proved to be a reliable and stable fluorescent bioprobe for cell imaging and targeting research that could also help in clarifying some cellular mechanisms of particles intracellular traffic through the cytoplasmic membrane and osteogenic differentiation induction. The in vitro HBMSC’s biocompatibility responses indicated that the OPS-modified chitosan QDs have a prospective future in laboratory and pre-clinical applications such as bioimaging analysis and for ex-vivo cellular evaluation of biomedical implants.

Gold nanoparticle-carboxymethyl cellulose nanocolloids for detection of human immunodeficiency virus type-1 (HIV-1) using laser light scattering immunoassay

It is estimated that over 100 million people have been infected with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV-1) resulting in approximately 30 million deaths globally. Herein, we designed and developed novel nano-immunoconjugates using gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) and carboxymethylcellulose (CMC) biopolymer, which performed simultaneously as an eco-friendly in situ reducing agent and surface stabilizing ligand for the aqueous colloidal process. These AuNPs-CMC nanocolloids were biofunctionalized with the gp41 glycoprotein receptor (AuNPs-CMC-gp41) or HIV monoclonal antibodies (AuNPs-CMC_PolyArg-abHIV) for detection using the laser light scattering immunoassay (LIA). These AuNPs-CMC bioengineered nanoconjugates were extensively characterized by morphological and physicochemical methods, which demonstrated the formation of spherical nanocrystalline colloidal AuNPs with the average size from 12 to 20 nm and surface plasmon resonance peak at 520 nm. Thus, stable nanocolloids were formed with core-shell nanostructures composed of AuNPs and biomacromolecules of CMC-gp41, which were cytocompatible based on in vitro cell viability results. The AuNPs-CMC-gp41 nanoconjugates were tested against HIV monoclonal antibodies conjugates (AuNPs-CMC_PolyArg-abHIV) using the light scattering immunoassay (LIA) where they behaved as active nanoprobes for the detection at nM level of HIV-1 antigenic proteins. This strategy offers a novel nanoplatform for creating bioprobes using green nanotechnology for the detection of HIV-1 and other virus-related diseases.

Bifunctional magnetopolymersomes of iron oxide nanoparticles and carboxymethylcellulose conjugated with doxorubicin for hyperthermo-chemotherapy of brain cancer cells

Magnetopolymersomes for potential multimodal brain cancer therapy – “nanoheaters meet drug nanocarriers”.

Bioengineered II-VI semiconductor quantum dot-carboxymethylcellulose nanoconjugates as multifunctional fluorescent nanoprobes for bioimaging live cells

Colloidal semiconductor quantum dots (QDs) are light-emitting ultra-small nanoparticles, which have emerged as a new class of nanoprobes with unique optical properties for bioimaging and biomedical diagnostic. However, to be used for most biomedical applications the biocompatibility and water-solubility are mandatory that can achieved through surface modification forming QD-nanoconjugates. In this study, semiconductor II-VI quantum dots of type MX (M=Cd, Pb, Zn, X=S) were directly synthesized in aqueous media and at room temperature using carboxymethylcellulose sodium salt (CMC) behaving simultaneously as stabilizing and surface biofunctional ligand. These nanoconjugates were extensively characterized using UV-visible spectroscopy, photoluminescence spectroscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, transmission electron microscopy, dynamic light scattering and zeta potential. The results demonstrated that the biopolymer was effective on nucleating and stabilizing the colloidal nanocrystals of CdS, ZnS, and PbS with the average diameter ranging from 2.0 to 5.0nm depending on the composition of the semiconductor core, which showed quantum-size confinement effect. These QD/polysaccharide conjugates showed luminescent activity from UV-visible to near-infrared range of the spectra under violet laser excitation. Moreover, the bioassays performed proved that these novel nanoconjugates were biocompatible and behaved as composition-dependent fluorescent nanoprobes for in vitro live cell bioimaging with very promising perspectives to be used in numerous biomedical applications and nanomedicine.

Photoluminescence and optical nonlinearity of CdS quantum dots synthesized in a functional copolymer hydrogel template

The acrylic acid content in the copolymer influences the size of the CdS QDs as well as the linear and nonlinear optical properties of the copolymer.

Bioengineered quantum dot/chitosan-tripeptide nanoconjugates for targeting the receptors of cancer cells

Nanobiomaterials can be engineered to recognize cancer-specific receptors at the cellular level for diagnostic and therapeutic purposes. In this work, we report the synthesis of novel multifunctional nanoconjugates composed of fluorescent inorganic semiconductor quantum dot (QD) cores and tripeptide-modified polysaccharide organic shells. These structures were designed for targeting and imaging the αvβ3 integrin receptors of cancer cells. Initially, chitosan was covalently bound with the RGD peptide using a crosslinker to form bioconjugates (RGD-chitosan), which were later utilized as capping ligands for the production of surface-functionalized CdS QDs via a single-step process in aqueous media at room temperature. These core-shell nanostructures were extensively characterized by UV-vis spectroscopy, photoluminescence (PL) spectroscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), zeta potential (ZP) and dynamic light scattering (DLS). The TEM images and the UV-vis absorption results indicated the formation of ultra-small CdS QD nanocrystals with average diameters between 2.0 and 3.0 nm. In addition, the PL results demonstrated that the nanobioconjugates exhibited intense green fluorescence under excitation. The CdS-RGD-chitosan systems were effective at specific targeting integrin when assayed in vitro using two model cell cultures, HEK 293 (non-cancerous human embryonic kidney cell) and SAOS (cancerous sarcoma osteogenic-derived cells) imaged using fluorescence microscopy.

Quantum dot/glycol chitosan fluorescent nanoconjugates

In this study, novel carbohydrate-based nanoconjugates combining chemically modified chitosan with semiconductor quantum dots (QDs) were designed and synthesised via single-step aqueous route at room temperature. Glycol chitosan (G-CHI) was used as the capping ligand aiming to improve the water solubility of the nanoconjugates to produce stable and biocompatible colloidal systems. UV-visible (UV-vis) spectroscopy, photoluminescence (PL) spectroscopy, and Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy were used to characterise the synthesis and the relative stability of biopolymer-capped semiconductor nanocrystals. The results clearly demonstrated that the glycol chitosan derivative was remarkably effective at nucleating and stabilising semiconductor CdS quantum dots in aqueous suspensions under acidic, neutral, and alkaline media with an average size of approximately 2.5 nm and a fluorescent activity in the visible range of the spectra.

Simultaneous fluoroimmunoassay of two tumor markers based on CdTe quantum dots and gold nanocluster coated-silica nanospheres as labels

Fluoroimmunoassay for simultaneous detection of CEA and AFP.

One-step colloidal synthesis of biocompatible water-soluble ZnS quantum dot/chitosan nanoconjugates

Quantum dots (QDs) are luminescent semiconductor nanocrystals with great prospective for use in biomedical and environmental applications. Nonetheless, eliminating the potential cytotoxicity of the QDs made with heavy metals is still a challenge facing the research community. Thus, the aim of this work was to develop a novel facile route for synthesising biocompatible QDs employing carbohydrate ligands in aqueous colloidal chemistry with optical properties tuned by pH. The synthesis of ZnS QDs capped by chitosan was performed using a single-step aqueous colloidal process at room temperature. The nanobioconjugates were extensively characterised by several techniques, and the results demonstrated that the average size of ZnS nanocrystals and their fluorescent properties were influenced by the pH during the synthesis. Hence, novel 'cadmium-free' biofunctionalised systems based on ZnS QDs capped by chitosan were successfully developed exhibiting luminescent activity that may be used in a large number of possible applications, such as probes in biology, medicine and pharmacy.

One-step biofunctionalization of quantum dots with chitosan and N-palmitoyl chitosan for potential biomedical applications

Carbohydrates and derivatives (such as glycolipids, glycoproteins) are of critical importance for cell structure, metabolism and functions. The effects of carbohydrate and lipid metabolic imbalances most often cause health disorders and diseases. In this study, new carbohydrate-based nanobioconjugates were designed and synthesized at room temperature using a single-step aqueous route combining chitosan and acyl-modified chitosan with fluorescent inorganic nanoparticles. N-palmitoyl chitosan (C-Pal) was prepared aiming at altering the lipophilic behavior of chitosan (CHI), but also retaining its reasonable water solubility for potential biomedical applications. CHI and C-Pal were used for producing biofunctionalized CdS quantum dots (QDs) as colloidal water dispersions. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), thermal analysis (TG/DSC), surface contact angle (SCA), and degree of swelling (DS) in phosphate buffer were used to characterize the carbohydrates. Additionally, UV-Visible spectroscopy (UV-Vis), photoluminescence spectroscopy (PL), dynamic light scattering (DLS), scanning and transmission electron microscopy (SEM/TEM) were used to evaluate the precursors and nanobioconjugates produced. The FTIR spectra associated with the thermal analysis results have undoubtedly indicated the presence of N-palmitoyl groups "grafted" to the chitosan chain (C-Pal) which significantly altered its behavior towards water swelling and surface contact angle as compared to the unmodified chitosan. Furthermore, the results have evidenced that both CHI and C-Pal performed as capping ligands on nucleating and stabilizing colloidal CdS QDs with estimated average size below 3.5 nm and fluorescent activity in the visible range of the spectra. Therefore, an innovative "one-step" process was developed via room temperature aqueous colloidal chemistry for producing biofunctionalized quantum dots using water soluble carbohydrates tailored with amphiphilic behavior offering potential applications as fluorescent biomarkers in the investigation of glycoconjugates for the nutrition, biology, pharmaceutical, and medicine fields.

Surface modified fluorescent quantum dots with neurotransmitter ligands for potential targeting of cell signaling applications

The possibility of combining nanotechnology with nanomedicine opens a broad field of research which may truly revolutionize our society. The neural system plays a crucial role in the human body, and most related diseases can dramatically change the quality of life. Thus, the present study reports a novel approach for using neurotransmitters as ligands in the synthesis of surface-modified fluorescent nanocrystals for potential use in cell labeling applications. Briefly, CdS quantum dots (QDs) were prepared using L-glutamic and L-aspartic as surface capping agents via a one-step chemical processing method, which resulted in stable aqueous colloidal systems at room temperature and ambient pressure. UV-visible spectroscopy, photoluminescence spectroscopy (PL), Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) were used to characterize the synthesis and relative stability of peptide-capped CdS nanocrystals. The results demonstrate that both ligands were effective in nucleating and stabilizing CdS quantum dots in colloidal aqueous suspensions, with an estimated dimension below 3.3 nm and with fluorescence activity. Thus, novel nanohybrids were developed based on QDs bioconjugated to surface-active neurotransmitter moieties suitable for investigation as potential biomarkers in cell targeting and signaling applications.