Role of polyethylene glycol integrity in specific receptor targeting of carbon nanotubes to cancer cells.

Zeineldin, Reema; Al-Haik, Marwan; Hudson, Laurie G · Nano Lett · 2009

basic_science · Level V

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Abstract

We demonstrate that dispersion of single walled carbon nanotubes (SWNTs) by ultrasonication with phospholipid-polyethylene glycol (PL-PEG) fragments it, thus interfering with its ability to block nonspecific uptake by cells. However, unfragmented PL-PEG promoted specific cellular uptake of targeted SWNTs to two distinct classes of receptors expressed by cancer cells. Since fragmentation is a likely consequence of ultrasonication, a technique commonly used to disperse SWNTs, this maybe a concern for certain applications such as drug delivery.

Medical subject headings