Quantum Dots for Human Mesenchymal Stem Cells Labeling. A Size-Dependent Autophagy Activation

• Published in: Nano letters Vol. 6; no. 12; pp. 2826 - 2832
• Main Authors: Seleverstov, Oleksandr, Zabirnyk, Olga, Zscharnack, Matthias, Bulavina, Larysa, Nowicki, Marcin, Heinrich, Jan-Michael, Yezhelyev, Maksym, Emmrich, Frank, O'Regan, Ruth, Bader, Augustinus
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Washington, DC American Chemical Society 01.12.2006
• Subjects: Autophagy; Cell Differentiation; Cell Membrane - metabolism; Cell Membrane - ultrastructure; Cell Survival; Cells, Cultured; Coculture Techniques; Cross-disciplinary physics: materials science; rheology; Exact sciences and technology; Fluorescence; Humans; Materials science; Mesenchymal Stromal Cells - metabolism; Mesenchymal Stromal Cells - physiology; Mesenchymal Stromal Cells - ultrastructure; Microscopy, Electron, Transmission; Microtubule-Associated Proteins - metabolism; Nanoscale materials and structures: fabrication and characterization; Other topics in nanoscale materials and structures; Physics; Quantum Dots; Nanoparticles; Proteins; Time dependence; Quantum dots; Macromolecules; Size effect; Cytotoxicity; Scanning transmission electron microscopy; Nanostructured materials
• ISSN: 1530-6984; 1530-6992
• DOI: 10.1021/nl0619711

Lately certain cytotoxicity of quantum dots (QDs) and some deleterious effects of labeling procedure on stem cells differentiation abilities were shown. In the present study we compared cytotoxicity and intracellular processing of two different-sized protein-conjugated QDs after labeling of the human mesenchymal stem cells (hMSC). An asymmetrical intracellular uptake of red (605 nm) and green (525 nm) quantum dots was observed. We describe for the first time a size-dependent activation of autophagy, caused by nanoparticles.