1
|
Souza SO, Lira RB, Cunha CRA, Santos BS, Fontes A, Pereira G. Methods for Intracellular Delivery of Quantum Dots. Top Curr Chem (Cham) 2021; 379:1. [PMID: 33398442 DOI: 10.1007/s41061-020-00313-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/25/2020] [Accepted: 11/11/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Quantum dots (QDs) have attracted considerable attention as fluorescent probes for life sciences. The advantages of using QDs in fluorescence-based studies include high brilliance, a narrow emission band allowing multicolor labeling, a chemically active surface for conjugation, and especially, high photostability. Despite these advantageous features, the size of the QDs prevents their free transport across the plasma membrane, limiting their use for specific labeling of intracellular structures. Over the years, various methods have been evaluated to overcome this issue to explore the full potential of the QDs. Thus, in this review, we focused our attention on physical and biochemical QD delivery methods-electroporation, microinjection, cell-penetrating peptides, molecular coatings, and liposomes-discussing the benefits and drawbacks of each strategy, as well as presenting recent studies in the field. We hope that this review can be a useful reference source for researches that already work or intend to work in this area. Strategies for the intracellular delivery of quantum dots discussed in this review (electroporation, microinjection, cell-penetrating peptides, molecular coatings, and liposomes).
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Sueden O Souza
- Departamento de Biofísica e Radiobiologia, Universidade Federal de Pernambuco, CB, UFPE, Av. Prof. Moraes Rego, S/N, Recife, PE, 50670-901, Brazil
| | - Rafael B Lira
- Moleculaire Biofysica, Zernike Instituut, Rijksuniversiteit Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Cássia R A Cunha
- Laboratório Federal de Defesa Agropecuária em Pernambuco, Recife, Brazil
| | - Beate S Santos
- Departamento de Ciências Farmacêuticas, Universidade Federal de Pernambuco, Recife, Brazil
| | - Adriana Fontes
- Departamento de Biofísica e Radiobiologia, Universidade Federal de Pernambuco, CB, UFPE, Av. Prof. Moraes Rego, S/N, Recife, PE, 50670-901, Brazil.
| | - Goreti Pereira
- Departamento de Química Fundamental, Universidade Federal de Pernambuco, CCEN, UFPE, Av. Jornalista Anibal Fernandes, S/N, Recife, 50740-560, PE, Brazil.
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Carvalho MET, Oliveira WF, Cunha CRA, Coelho LCBB, Silva MV, Carvalho Junior LB, Santos BS, Cabral Filho PE, Fontes A, Correia MTS. Evaluating the glycophenotype on breast cancer tissues with quantum dots-Cramoll lectin conjugates. Int J Biol Macromol 2019; 138:302-308. [PMID: 31306700 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2019.07.088] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/16/2019] [Revised: 07/11/2019] [Accepted: 07/11/2019] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
During carcinogenesis, changes in the glycosylation can modulate many biological processes. Thus, the interest in exploring and understanding the roles of carbohydrates as cancer biomarkers has been increasing. Lectins have been applied as useful tools in glycobiology, especially when associated with fluorescent reporters. Therefore, to take advantage of the physicochemical properties of quantum dots (QDs), herein, we conjugated Cramoll, a lectin that recognizes glucose/mannose residues, with those nanoparticles. We applied the conjugates to investigate the glycocode of normal, fibroadenoma (FB), and invasive ductal carcinoma (IDC) human breast tissues. Additionally, we proposed a method to quantitatively evaluate the tissue labeling intensity by a fluorescence microplate assay (FMA). Conjugates showed intense fluorescence and specificity. The lectin activity and secondary structure were also preserved after the conjugation with QDs. Moreover, fluorescence images showed that ductal cells of normal and FB tissues were preferentially labeled by conjugates, whereas both cells and stroma were strongly labeled in IDC. FMA showed in a quantitative, practical, and sensitive way that the level of exposed glucose/mannose residues increased accordingly to the sample malignancy degree. In conclusion, QDs-Cramoll conjugates can be considered effective, specific, and versatile probes to evaluate glycan profiles in normal and transformed tissues, by fluorescence microscopy as well as FMA quantification. Furthermore, FMA showed to be a potential method that can be applied with other fluorescent conjugates.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Maria Eduarda T Carvalho
- Departamento de Biofísica e Radiobiologia, Centro de Biociências, Universidade Federal de Pernambuco, Recife, PE, Brazil; Departamento de Bioquímica, Centro de Biociências, Universidade Federal de Pernambuco, Recife, PE, Brazil
| | - Weslley F Oliveira
- Departamento de Biofísica e Radiobiologia, Centro de Biociências, Universidade Federal de Pernambuco, Recife, PE, Brazil; Departamento de Bioquímica, Centro de Biociências, Universidade Federal de Pernambuco, Recife, PE, Brazil
| | - Cássia R A Cunha
- Laboratório Federal de Defesa Agropecuária em Pernambuco - LFDA, Recife, PE, Brazil
| | - Luana C B B Coelho
- Departamento de Bioquímica, Centro de Biociências, Universidade Federal de Pernambuco, Recife, PE, Brazil
| | - Márcia V Silva
- Departamento de Bioquímica, Centro de Biociências, Universidade Federal de Pernambuco, Recife, PE, Brazil
| | - Luiz B Carvalho Junior
- Laboratório de Imunopatologia Keizo Asami, Universidade Federal de Pernambuco, Recife, PE, Brazil
| | - Beate S Santos
- Departamento de Ciências Farmacêuticas, Centro de Ciências da Saúde, Universidade Federal de Pernambuco, Recife, PE, Brazil
| | - Paulo E Cabral Filho
- Departamento de Biofísica e Radiobiologia, Centro de Biociências, Universidade Federal de Pernambuco, Recife, PE, Brazil
| | - Adriana Fontes
- Departamento de Biofísica e Radiobiologia, Centro de Biociências, Universidade Federal de Pernambuco, Recife, PE, Brazil.
| | - Maria Tereza S Correia
- Departamento de Bioquímica, Centro de Biociências, Universidade Federal de Pernambuco, Recife, PE, Brazil.
| |
Collapse
|