Nanocrystal facet modulation to enhance transferrin binding and cellular delivery.

ABSTRACT: Binding of biomolecules to crystal surfaces is critical for effective biological applications of crystalline nanomaterials. Here, we present the modulation of exposed crystal facets as a feasible approach to enhance specific nanocrystal-biomolecule associations for improving cellular targeting and nanomaterial uptake. We demonstrate that facet-engineering significantly enhances transferrin binding to cadmium chalcogenide nanocrystals and their subsequent delivery into cancer cells, mediated by transferrin receptors, in a complex biological matrix. Competitive adsorption experiments coupled with theoretical calculations reveal that the (100) facet of cadmoselite and (002) facet of greenockite preferentially bind with transferrin via inner-sphere thiol complexation. Molecular dynamics simula

SUBMITTER: Qi Y 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7062909 | biostudies-literature | 2020 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature