Issue 8, 2015

Regulating exocytosis of nanoparticles via host–guest chemistry

Abstract

Prolonged retention of internalized nanoparticulate systems inside cells improves their efficacy in imaging, drug delivery, and theranostic applications. Especially, regulating exocytosis of the nanoparticles is a key factor in the fabrication of effective nanocarriers for chemotherapeutic treatments but orthogonal control of exocytosis in the cellular environment is a major challenge. Herein, we present the first example of regulating exocytosis of gold nanoparticles (AuNPs), a model drug carrier, by using a simple host–guest supramolecular system. AuNPs featuring quaternary amine head groups were internalized into the cells through endocytosis. Subsequent in situ treatment of a complementary cucurbit[7]uril (CB[7]) to the amine head groups resulted in the AuNP-CB[7] complexation inside cells, rendering particle assembly. This complexation induced larger particle assemblies that remained sequestered in the endosomes, inhibiting exocytosis of the particles without any observed cytotoxicity.

Graphical abstract: Regulating exocytosis of nanoparticles via host–guest chemistry

Supplementary files

Article information

Article type
Paper
Submitted
19 nov 2014
Accepted
23 dec 2014
First published
23 dec 2014

Org. Biomol. Chem., 2015,13, 2474-2479

Regulating exocytosis of nanoparticles via host–guest chemistry

C. Kim, G. Y. Tonga, B. Yan, C. S. Kim, S. T. Kim, M. Park, Z. Zhu, B. Duncan, B. Creran and V. M. Rotello, Org. Biomol. Chem., 2015, 13, 2474 DOI: 10.1039/C4OB02433H

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