Issue 18, 2020

Near-infrared control and real-time detection of osteogenic differentiation in mesenchymal stem cells by multifunctional upconversion nanoparticles

Abstract

Finding a method to control and detect the differentiation of stem cells in real time remains a challenge for regenerative medicine. Here we developed the multifunctional upconversion nanoparticle (UCNP) approach for both near-infrared (NIR) control and the real-time detection of osteogenic differentiation in mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs). We first synthesized Tm/Er doped core–shell UCNPs (NaYF4:Yb/Tm/Er@NaYF4), and the core–shell UCNPs were coated with mesoporous silica for drug loading and installing photomechanical azobenzene (azo). Then the Arg-Gly-Asp (RGD) peptide and the matrix metalloproteinase 13 (MMP13) sensitive peptide-black hole quencher-3 group (CGPLGVRGK-BHQ-3) were conjugated on the surface of UCNPs for cell targeting and detection of cell differentiation. The final multifunctional UCNPs are called UCNP@mSiO2-azo-peptide-BHQ-3. The drug icariin (ICA), which can induce the osteogenic differentiation of MSCs, was loaded into UCNP@mSiO2-azo-peptide-BHQ-3 to form the UCNP nanocomplexes. ICA could be released from UCNP nanocomplexes in a NIR-controlled manner that is based on the transformation of the trans-isomer of azo into the cis isomer under the upconverted UV and visible light. Meanwhile, UCNP@mSiO2-azo-peptide-BHQ-3 could also be used as a nanoprobe to detect the activity of the MMP13 enzyme by enzyme digestion and UCNP fluorescence recovery. By detecting MMP13, which is produced by osteogenic differentiation, a real-time detection of cell differentiation in living differentiated MSCs could be achieved using UCNP nanoprobes. Thus, the multifunctional UCNPs combined the control of cell differentiation with the real-time detection of cell differentiation in MSCs, which makes them a powerful tool for regulating and detecting the differentiation of MSCs in regenerative medicine.

Graphical abstract: Near-infrared control and real-time detection of osteogenic differentiation in mesenchymal stem cells by multifunctional upconversion nanoparticles

Associated articles

Supplementary files

Article information

Article type
Paper
Submitted
01 Feb 2020
Accepted
28 Mar 2020
First published
06 Apr 2020

Nanoscale, 2020,12, 10106-10116

Near-infrared control and real-time detection of osteogenic differentiation in mesenchymal stem cells by multifunctional upconversion nanoparticles

K. Wang, Q. Wu, X. Wang, G. Liang, A. Yang and J. Li, Nanoscale, 2020, 12, 10106 DOI: 10.1039/D0NR00872A

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