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Intracellular Nanoparticle Coating Stability Determines Nanoparticle Diagnostics Efficacy and Cell Functionality
Author(s) -
Soenen Stefaan J. H.,
Himmelreich Uwe,
Nuytten Nele,
Pisanic Thomas R.,
Ferrari Aldo,
De Cuyper Marcel
Publication year - 2010
Publication title -
small
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 3.785
H-Index - 236
eISSN - 1613-6829
pISSN - 1613-6810
DOI - 10.1002/smll.201000763
Subject(s) - intracellular , nanoparticle , biophysics , iron oxide nanoparticles , coating , iron oxide , materials science , ferric , degradation (telecommunications) , endosome , nanotechnology , chemistry , biochemistry , biology , telecommunications , computer science , metallurgy
Abstract Iron oxide nanoparticles (NPs) are frequently employed in biomedical research as magnetic resonance (MR) contrast agents where high intracellular levels are required to clearly depict signal alterations. To date, the toxicity and applicability of these particles have not been completely unraveled. Here, we show that endosomal localization of different iron oxide particles results in their degradation and in reduced MR contrast, the rate of which is governed mainly by the stability of the coating. The release of ferric iron generates reactive species, which greatly affect cell functionality. Lipid‐coated NPs display the highest stability and furthermore exhibit intracellular clustering, which significantly enhances their MR properties and intracellular persistence. These findings are of considerable importance because, depending on the nature of the coating, particles can be rapidly degraded, thus completely annihilating their MR contrast to levels not detectable when compared to controls and greatly impeding cell functionality, thereby hindering their application in functional in vivo studies.