Two-Step Preparation of Protein-Decorated Biohybrid Quantum Dot Nanoparticles for Cellular Uptake

TRAVERSO, AGATA NOELIA; FRAGALE, DAVID JOSÉ; VIALE, DIEGO LUIS; GARATE, OCTAVIO; TORRES, PABLO; VALVERDE, GASTÓN; BERRA, ALEJANDRO; TORBIDONI, ANA VANESA; YAKISICH, JUAN SEBASTIÁN; GRASSELLI, MARIANO; RADRIZZANI, MARTÍN

Pharmaceutics

Pharmaceutics Editorial Office

Lugar: Basel; Año: 2023 vol. 15

Abstract: Decoration of nanoparticles with specific molecules such as antibodies, peptides, andproteins that preserve their biological properties is essential for the recognition and internalization oftheir specific target cells. Inefficient preparation of such decorated nanoparticles leads to nonspecificinteractions diverting them from their desired target. We report a simple two-step procedure forthe preparation of biohybrid nanoparticles containing a core of hydrophobic quantum dots coatedwith a multilayer of human serum albumin. These nanoparticles were prepared by ultra-sonication,crosslinked using glutaraldehyde, and decorated with proteins such as human serum albumin orhuman transferrin in their native conformations. These nanoparticles were homogeneous in size(20–30 nm), retained the fluorescent properties of quantum dots, and did not show a “corona effect” inthe presence of serum. The uptake of transferrin-decorated quantum dot nanoparticles was observedin A549 lung cancer and SH-SY5Y neuroblastoma cells but not in non-cancerous 16HB14o- or retinoicacid dopaminergic neurons differentiated SH-SY5Y cells. Furthermore, digitoxin-loaded transferrindecoratednanoparticles decreased the number of A549 cells without effect on 16HB14o-. Finally, weanalyzed the in vivo uptake of these biohybrids by murine retinal cells, demonstrating their capacityto selectively target and deliver into specific cell types with excellent traceability.