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Klimkevicius V, Voronovic E, Jarockyte G, Skripka A, Vetrone F, Rotomskis R, Katelnikovas A, Karabanovas V. Polymer brush coated upconverting nanoparticles with improved colloidal stability and cellular labeling. J Mater Chem B 2022; 10:625-636. [PMID: 34989749 DOI: 10.1039/d1tb01644j] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
Upconverting nanoparticles (UCNPs) possess great potential for biomedical application. UCNPs absorb and convert near-infrared (NIR) radiation in the biological imaging window to visible (Vis) and even ultraviolet (UV) radiation. NIR excitation offers reduced scattering and diminished autofluorescence in biological samples, whereas the emitted UV-Vis and NIR photons can be used for cancer treatment and imaging, respectively. However, UCNPs are usually synthesized in organic solvents and are not readily suitable for biomedical application due to the hydrophobic nature of their surface. Herein, we have removed the hydrophobic ligands from the synthesized UCNPs and coated the bare UCNPs with two custom-made hydrophilic polyelectrolytes (synthesized via the reversible addition-fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT) polymerization method). Polymers containing different amounts of PEGylated and carboxylic groups were studied. Coating with both polymers increased the upconversion (UC) emission intensity and photoluminescence lifetime values of the UCNPs, which directly translates to more efficient cancer cell labeling nanoprobes. The polymer composition plays a crucial role in the modification of UCNPs, not only with respect to their colloidal stability, but also with respect to the cellular uptake. Colloidally unstable bare UCNPs aggregate in cell culture media and precipitate, rendering themselves unsuitable for any biomedical use. However, stabilization with polymers prevents UCNPs from aggregation, increases their uptake in cells, and improves the quality of cellular labeling. This investigation sheds light on the appropriate coating for UCNPs and provides relevant insights for the rational development of imaging and therapeutic tools.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vaidas Klimkevicius
- Institute of Chemistry, Vilnius University, Naugarduko 24, LT-03225, Vilnius, Lithuania.
| | - Evelina Voronovic
- Biomedical Physics Laboratory of National Cancer Institute, Baublio 3B, LT-08406, Vilnius, Lithuania. .,Department of Chemistry and Bioengineering, Vilnius Gediminas Technical University, Saulėtekio 11, LT-10223 Vilnius, Lithuania.,Life Science Center, Vilnius University, Sauletekio av. 7, LT-10257, Vilnius, Lithuania
| | - Greta Jarockyte
- Biomedical Physics Laboratory of National Cancer Institute, Baublio 3B, LT-08406, Vilnius, Lithuania. .,Life Science Center, Vilnius University, Sauletekio av. 7, LT-10257, Vilnius, Lithuania
| | - Artiom Skripka
- Institut National de la Recherche Scientifique, Centre Énergie, Matériaux et Télécommunications, Université du Québec, 1650, boul. Lionel-Boulet, J3X 1S2, Varennes, QC, Canada
| | - Fiorenzo Vetrone
- Institut National de la Recherche Scientifique, Centre Énergie, Matériaux et Télécommunications, Université du Québec, 1650, boul. Lionel-Boulet, J3X 1S2, Varennes, QC, Canada
| | - Ricardas Rotomskis
- Biomedical Physics Laboratory of National Cancer Institute, Baublio 3B, LT-08406, Vilnius, Lithuania. .,Biophotonics Group of Laser Research Centre, Vilnius University, Saulėtekio 9, c.3, LT-10222, Vilnius, Lithuania
| | - Arturas Katelnikovas
- Institute of Chemistry, Vilnius University, Naugarduko 24, LT-03225, Vilnius, Lithuania.
| | - Vitalijus Karabanovas
- Biomedical Physics Laboratory of National Cancer Institute, Baublio 3B, LT-08406, Vilnius, Lithuania. .,Department of Chemistry and Bioengineering, Vilnius Gediminas Technical University, Saulėtekio 11, LT-10223 Vilnius, Lithuania
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Voronovic E, Skripka A, Jarockyte G, Ger M, Kuciauskas D, Kaupinis A, Valius M, Rotomskis R, Vetrone F, Karabanovas V. Uptake of Upconverting Nanoparticles by Breast Cancer Cells: Surface Coating versus the Protein Corona. ACS Appl Mater Interfaces 2021; 13:39076-39087. [PMID: 34378375 PMCID: PMC8824430 DOI: 10.1021/acsami.1c10618] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/16/2023]
Abstract
Fluorophores with multifunctional properties known as rare-earth-doped nanoparticles (RENPs) are promising candidates for bioimaging, therapy, and drug delivery. When applied in vivo, these nanoparticles (NPs) have to retain long blood-circulation time, bypass elimination by phagocytic cells, and successfully arrive at the target area. Usually, NPs in a biological medium are exposed to proteins, which form the so-called "protein corona" (PC) around the NPs and influence their targeted delivery and accumulation in cells and tissues. Different surface coatings change the PC size and composition, subsequently deciding the fate of the NPs. Thus, detailed studies on the PC are of utmost importance to determine the most suitable NP surface modification for biomedical use. When it comes to RENPs, these studies are particularly scarce. Here, we investigate the PC composition and its impact on the cellular uptake of citrate-, SiO2-, and phospholipid micelle-coated RENPs (LiYF4:Yb3+,Tm3+). We observed that the PC of citrate- and phospholipid-coated RENPs is relatively stable and similar in the adsorbed protein composition, while the PC of SiO2-coated RENPs is larger and highly dynamic. Moreover, biocompatibility, accumulation, and cytotoxicity of various RENPs in cancer cells have been evaluated. On the basis of the cellular imaging, supported by the inhibition studies, it was revealed that RENPs are internalized by endocytosis and that specific endocytic routes are PC composition dependent. Overall, these results are essential to fill the gaps in the fundamental understanding of the nano-biointeractions of RENPs, pertinent for their envisioned application in biomedicine.
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Affiliation(s)
- Evelina Voronovic
- Biomedical
Physics Laboratory of National Cancer Institute, Baublio 3B, LT-08406 Vilnius, Lithuania
- Life
Sciences Center, Vilnius University, Sauletekio av. 7, LT-10257 Vilnius, Lithuania
- Department
of Chemistry and Bioengineering, Vilnius
Gediminas Technical University, Sauletekio av. 11, LT-10223 Vilnius, Lithuania
| | - Artiom Skripka
- Centre
Énergie, Matériaux et Télécommunications, Institut National de la Recherche Scientifique, Université
du Québec, 1650 Boul. Lionel-Boulet, Varennes, Quebec J3X 1S2, Canada
| | - Greta Jarockyte
- Biomedical
Physics Laboratory of National Cancer Institute, Baublio 3B, LT-08406 Vilnius, Lithuania
- Life
Sciences Center, Vilnius University, Sauletekio av. 7, LT-10257 Vilnius, Lithuania
| | - Marija Ger
- Institute
of Biochemistry, Life Sciences Center, Vilnius
University, Sauletekio
av. 7, LT-10257 Vilnius, Lithuania
| | - Dalius Kuciauskas
- Institute
of Biochemistry, Life Sciences Center, Vilnius
University, Sauletekio
av. 7, LT-10257 Vilnius, Lithuania
| | - Algirdas Kaupinis
- Institute
of Biochemistry, Life Sciences Center, Vilnius
University, Sauletekio
av. 7, LT-10257 Vilnius, Lithuania
| | - Mindaugas Valius
- Institute
of Biochemistry, Life Sciences Center, Vilnius
University, Sauletekio
av. 7, LT-10257 Vilnius, Lithuania
| | - Ricardas Rotomskis
- Biomedical
Physics Laboratory of National Cancer Institute, Baublio 3B, LT-08406 Vilnius, Lithuania
- Biophotonics
Group of Laser Research Centre, Vilnius
University, Sauletekio
av. 9, LT-10222 Vilnius, Lithuania
| | - Fiorenzo Vetrone
- Centre
Énergie, Matériaux et Télécommunications, Institut National de la Recherche Scientifique, Université
du Québec, 1650 Boul. Lionel-Boulet, Varennes, Quebec J3X 1S2, Canada
| | - Vitalijus Karabanovas
- Biomedical
Physics Laboratory of National Cancer Institute, Baublio 3B, LT-08406 Vilnius, Lithuania
- Department
of Chemistry and Bioengineering, Vilnius
Gediminas Technical University, Sauletekio av. 11, LT-10223 Vilnius, Lithuania
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