Cellular internalization of bystander nanomaterial induced by TAT-nanoparticles and regulated by extracellular cysteine.

ABSTRACT: Entry into cells is necessary for many nanomaterial applications, and a common solution is to functionalize nanoparticles (NPs) with cell-penetrating ligands. Despite intensive studies on these functionalized NPs, little is known about their effect on cellular activities to engulf other cargo from the nearby environment. Here, we use NPs functionalized with TAT (transactivator of transcription) peptide (T-NPs) as an example to investigate their impact on cellular uptake of bystander cargo. We find that T-NP internalization enables cellular uptake of bystander NPs, but not common fluid markers, through a receptor-dependent macropinocytosis pathway. Moreover, the activity of this bystander uptake is stimulated by cysteine presence in the surrounding solution. The cargo selectivity and cystei

SUBMITTER: Wei Y 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6692393 | biostudies-literature | 2019 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature