(121a) Use Of Ultra-Low Cost Biodegradable Nanoparticles For The Transfection Of Mammalian Cells

Owing to their small size, engineered nanoparticles show novel biophysical and biochemical properties which enable significant advances in life sciences. Our most recent findings show how specific nanoparticles can enter mammalian cells (Limbach et al.)

The present contribution demonstrates how such oxide or phosphate nanoparticle can be used as ultra-low cost transfection agents.

This contribution will further show how classical magnetic beads can be rendered much more efficient ? both in terms of loading capacity and separation rate.

The use of nanoparticles in mammalian cells also involves significant cytotoxicity if particles are not chosen appropriately. A systematic study on industrially important nanoparticles allow grouping of nanomaterials according to chemical composition, solubility and persistence. Based on this result, we developed a specific, biodegradable and non-cytotoxic calcium phosphate nanoparticle for the successful incorporation of a biologically active target compound into a series of mammalian cell lines. This broad approach allows the identification of optimal nanoparticulate materials as drug delivery devices.

Figure: Exposure of human lung fibroblast cells to ceria nanoparticles of 20-50 nm in diameter results in the uptake of agglomerates. Vesicles inside a fibroblast cell with ceria agglomerates. The high atomic mass of ceria and resulting contrast make the particles visible as dark spots. (B) A series of nanoparticle agglomerates close to the cell membrane. (C) Nanoparticles both inside the cell (vesicle) and outside are exclusively found in the form of agglomerates, confirming the dominant role of agglomeration. All bar sizes are 1.5 μm.

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