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Uptake of bright fluorophore core-silica shell nanoparticles by biological systems
Authors Zane A, McCracken C, Knight D, Young T, Lutton A, Olesik J, Waldman J, Dutta P
Received 22 October 2014
Accepted for publication 26 November 2014
Published 20 February 2015 Volume 2015:10(1) Pages 1547—1567
DOI https://doi.org/10.2147/IJN.S76208
Checked for plagiarism Yes
Review by Single anonymous peer review
Peer reviewer comments 4
Editor who approved publication: Prof. Dr. Thomas J. Webster
Andrew Zane,1 Christie McCracken,2 Deborah A Knight,2 Tanya Young,1 Anthony D Lutton,3 John W Olesik,3 W James Waldman,2 Prabir K Dutta1
1Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, 2Department of Pathology, 3School of Earth Sciences, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, USA
Abstract: Nanoparticles are used in a variety of consumer applications. Silica nanoparticles in particular are common, including as a component of foods. There are concerns that ingested nanosilica particles can cross the intestinal epithelium, enter the circulation, and accumulate in tissues and organs. Thus, tracking these particles is of interest, and fluorescence spectroscopic methods are well-suited for this purpose. However, nanosilica is not fluorescent. In this article, we focus on core-silica shell nanoparticles, using fluorescent Rhodamine 6G, Rhodamine 800, or CdSe/CdS/ZnS quantum dots as the core. These stable fluorophore/silica nanoparticles had surface characteristics similar to those of commercial silica particles. Thus, they were used as model particles to examine internalization by cultured cells, including an epithelial cell line relevant to the gastrointestinal tract. Finally, these particles were administered to mice by gavage, and their presence in various organs, including stomach, small intestine, cecum, colon, kidney, lung, brain, and spleen, was examined. By combining confocal fluorescence microscopy with inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry, the presence of nanoparticles, rather than their dissolved form, was established in liver tissues.
Keywords: quantum dots, dyes, optical spectroscopy, NMR, zeta potential, mouse model, macrophages, Caco-2, nanoparticles in foods
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