Rsc Adv

A Forster resonance energy transfer (FRET) system of semiconductor quantum dots and porphyrins represents a new promising photosensitizing tool for the photodynamic therapy of cancer. In this work, we demonstrate the ability of a non-covalent complex formed between commercial lipid-coated CdSe/ ZnS quantum dots (QD) bearing different terminal groups (carboxyl, amine or non-functionalized) and a second-generation photosensitizer, chlorin e(6) (Ce-6) to enter living HeLa cells with maintained integrity and perform FRET from two-photon excited QD to bound Ce-6 molecules. Spectroscopic changes, the highly efficient FRET, observed upon Ce-6 binding to QD, and remarkable stability of the QD-Ce-6 complex in different media suggest that Ce-6 penetrates inside the lipid coating close to the inorganic core of QD. Two-photon fluorescence lifetime imaging microscopy (FLIM) on living HeLa cells revealed that QD-Ce-6 complexes localize within the plasma membrane and intracellular compartments and preserve high FRET efficiency (similar to 50%). The latter was confirmed by recovery of QD emission lifetime after photobleaching of Ce-6. The intracellular distribution pattern and FRET efficiency of QD-Ce-6 complexes did not depend on the charge of QD terminal groups. Given the non-covalent nature of the complex, its exceptional stability in cellulo can be explained by a combination of hydrophobic interactions and coordination of carboxyl groups of Ce6 with the ZnS shell of QD. These findings suggest a simple route to the preparation of QD-photosensitizer complexes featuring efficient FRET and high stability in cellulo without using time-consuming conjugation protocols

Quantum dots affect expression of CD133 surface antigen in melanoma cells

Simona Steponkiene1-3, Simona Kavaliauskiene1, Rasa Purviniene4, Ricardas Rotomskis3,5, Petras Juzenas11Department of Radiation Biology, Institute for Cancer Research, Oslo University Hospital, Radiumhospital, Oslo, Norway; 2Faculty of Natural Sciences, Vilnius University, Vilnius, Lithuania; 3Biomedical Physics Laboratory of Oncology Institute, Vilnius University, Vilnius, Lithuania; 4Immunology Laboratory of Oncology Institute, Vilnius University, Vilnius, Lithuania; 5Biophotonics Laboratory, Laser Research Center, Vilnius University, Vilnius, LithuaniaBackground: In novel treatment approaches, therapeutics should be designed to target cancer stem cells (CSCs). Quantum dots (QDs) are a promising new tool in fighting against cancer. However, little is known about accumulation and cytotoxicity of QDs in CSCs.Methods: Accumulation and cytotoxicity of CdTe-MPA (mercaptopropionic acid) QDs in CSCs were assessed using flow cytometry and fluorescence-activated cell sorting techniques as well as a colorimetric cell viability assay.Results: We investigated the expression of two cell surface-associated glycoproteins, CD44 and CD133, in four different cancer cell lines (glioblastoma, melanoma, pancreatic, and prostate adenocarcinoma). Only the melanoma cells were positive to both markers of CD44 and CD133, whereas the other cells were only CD44-positive. The QDs accumulated to a similar extent in all subpopulations of the melanoma cells. The phenotypical response after QD treatment was compared with the response after ionizing radiation treatment. The percentage of the CD44high-CD133high subpopulation decreased from 72% to 55%–58% for both treatments. The stem-like subpopulation CD44highCD133low/- increased from 26%–28% in the untreated melanoma cells to 36%–40% for both treatments.Conclusion: Treatment of melanoma cells with QDs results in an increase of stem-like cell subpopulations. The changes in phenotype distribution of the melanoma cells after the treatment with QDs are comparable with the changes after ionizing radiation.Keywords: prominin-1, CD44, glycoproteins, flow cytometry, FACS, nanoparticle

Skin-derived mesenchymal stem cells as quantum dot vehicles to tumors

Dominyka Dapkute,1,2 Simona Steponkiene,1 Danute Bulotiene,1 Liga Saulite,3 Una Riekstina,3 Ricardas Rotomskis1,4 1Biomedical Physics Laboratory, National Cancer Institute, Vilnius, Lithuania; 2Institute of Biosciences, Vilnius University, Vilnius, Lithuania; 3Faculty of Medicine, University of Latvia, Riga, Latvia; 4Biophotonics Group of Laser Research Center, Faculty of Physics, Vilnius University, Vilnius, Lithuania Purpose: Cell-mediated delivery of nanoparticles is emerging as a new method of cancer diagnostics and treatment. Due to their inherent regenerative properties, adult mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are naturally attracted to wounds and sites of inflammation, as well as tumors. Such characteristics enable MSCs to be used in cellular hitchhiking of nanoparticles. In this study, MSCs extracted from the skin connective tissue were investigated as transporters of semiconductor nanocrystals quantum dots (QDs).Materials and methods: Cytotoxicity of carboxylated CdSe/ZnS QDs was assessed by lactate dehydrogenase cell viability assay. Quantitative uptake of QDs was determined by flow cytometry; their intracellular localization was evaluated by confocal microscopy. In vitro tumor-tropic migration of skin-derived MSCs was verified by Transwell migration assay. For in vivo migration studies of QD-loaded MSCs, human breast tumor-bearing immunodeficient mice were used.Results: QDs were found to be nontoxic to MSCs in concentrations no more than 16 nM. The uptake studies showed a rapid QD endocytosis followed by saturating effects after 6 h of incubation and intracellular localization in the perinuclear region. In vitro migration of MSCs toward MDA-MB-231 breast cancer cells and their conditioned medium was up to nine times greater than the migration toward noncancerous breast epithelial cells MCF-10A. In vivo, systemically administered QD-labeled MSCs were mainly located in the tumor and metastatic tissues, evading most healthy organs with the exception being blood clearance organs (spleen, kidneys, liver).Conclusion: Skin-derived MSCs demonstrate applicability in cell-mediated delivery of nanoparticles. The findings presented in this study promise further development of a cell therapy and nanotechnology-based tool for early cancer diagnostics and therapy. Keywords: mesenchymal stem cells, tumor tropism, quantum dots, nanoparticles, tumor-specific delivery, immunodeficient mic