Polymeric nanoparticles promote endocytosis of a survivin molecular beacon: Localization and fate of nanoparticles and beacon in human A549 cells

• Published in: Life sciences (1973) 2018-12, Vol.215, p.106-112
• Main Authors: Adinolfi, Barbara, Pellegrino, Mario, Tombelli, Sara, Trono, Cosimo, Giannetti, Ambra, Domenici, Claudio, Varchi, Greta, Sotgiu, Giovanna, Ballestri, Marco, Baldini, Francesco
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: A549 Cells; Cancer cells; Dextrans - administration & dosage; Dextrans - metabolism; Drug Delivery Systems; Endocytosis; Endocytosis - drug effects; Endoplasmic Reticulum - metabolism; Fluorescence; Humans; Lung Neoplasms - metabolism; Lysosomal exocytosis; Lysosomes - metabolism; Molecular beacon; Nanoparticles - administration & dosage; Nanoparticles - metabolism; Polymers - chemistry; Polymethyl Methacrylate - chemistry; Polymethylmethacrylate nanoparticles; RNA, Messenger - metabolism; Survivin - genetics; Survivin - metabolism
• ISSN: 0024-3205; 1879-0631
• DOI: 10.1016/j.lfs.2018.11.007

Polymethylmethacrylate core-shell fluorescent nanoparticles promote, in human lung A549 cancer cells, the internalization of a molecular beacon (MB) specific for survivin mRNA, an anti-apoptotic protein overexpressed in cancer cells. To design an effective drug delivery system, the knowledge of the uptake mechanism and of the nanoparticles (NPs) and MB fate is required. Experiments with dextran as marker for endocytosis showed that in the presence of NPs the number of endocytic vesicles per cell doubled and their mean size significantly (p