Quantitative Analysis of the Fate of Gold Nanocages In Vitro and In Vivo after Uptake by U87-MG Tumor Cells

摘要

Nanoparticles have been extensively used as carriers to deliver theranostic agents into tumors through the enhanced permeation and retention (EPR) effect, and to regulate the release of a chemical or biological effector in response to environmental stimuli, such as temperature or pH change. In these cases, cell uptake of nanoparticles has been studied to maximize their delivery into the target cells. Cell uptake of nanoparticles has also been extensively investigated in an effort to understand their cytotoxicity and potential societal impacts. Many reports have demonstrated that the uptake of nanoparticles by cells depends on their sizes, shapes, and surface properties, among others. However, little attention has been given to monitoring the fate of nanoparticles in cells or tissues as a function of time, which should be of great importance in understanding the delivery efficiency and toxicity of nanoparticles. In a recent in vitro study, using a statistical method it was demonstrated that nanoparticles were distributed unequally in cells when these divided.181 However, the conclusion was drawn from an analysis of a large number of cells rather than by tracking the nanoparticles in individual cells during their division. In addition, no such study has been reported for cells under in vivo conditions.