Characterization techniques for studying the properties of nanocarriers for systemic delivery

Nanocarriers have attracted a huge interest in the last decade as efficient drug delivery systems and diagnostic tools. They enable effective, targeted, controlled delivery of therapeutic molecules while lowering the side effects caused during the treatment. The physicochemical properties of nanoparticles determine their in vivo pharmacokinetics, biodistribution and tolerability. The most analyzed among these physicochemical properties are shape, size, surface charge and porosity and several techniques have been used to characterize these specific properties. These different techniques assess the particles under varying conditions, such as physical state, solvents etc. and as such probe, in addition to the particles themselves, artifacts due to sample preparation or environment during measurement. Here, we discuss the different methods to precisely evaluate these properties, including their advantages or disadvantages. In several cases, there are physical properties that can be evaluated by more than one technique. Different strengths and limitations of each technique complicate the choice of the most suitable method, while often a combinatorial characterization approach is needed

Distinct modes of molecular regulation of CCL3 induced calcium flux in monocytic cells

The chemokine receptor CCR5 has been shown to be targeted to cholesterol- and sphingolipid-rich membrane microdomains. Here we elucidate the effects of membrane fluidity on CCR5 signalling and expression using the monocytic THP-1 cells. MCD treatment of THP-1 cells, which removes nearly all cholesterol from the plasma membrane, leads to an increase in the signalling properties of CCR5. In contrast, the prevention of cholesterol production with lovastatin and simvastatin decreases the release of intracellular calcium and also decreases receptor cell surface expression. The loss of response in lovastatin treated cells can be rescued by MCD addition, which shows that the cholesterol content in the membrane is only one factor in determining the amount of receptor response. We show that CCR5 signalling is dependent on thapsigargin-sensitive Ca2+ stores and on activation of ryanodine receptors as well as InsP3 receptors or store-operated channels. Cholesterol depletion with MCD changes the thapsigargin sensitivity in THP-1 cells and also alters receptor-G-protein coupling towards pertussis toxin (PTX) independent G-proteins. Cholesterol removal by MCD in THP-1 cells has far reaching consequences for receptor activation and signalling and emphasises the need for a clearer understanding of how membrane fluidity affects receptor signalling events