Enhanced cellular internalization of CdTe quantum dots mediated by arginine- and tryptophan-rich cell-penetrating peptides as efficient carriers

Abstract

Quantum dots (QDs), as a new class of fluorescent tags, have been widely used for biomedical applications. Despite their various advantages, QDs do not efficiently enter cells on their own, and aggregation often occurs following internalization. In the present study, we have designed three QD–cell-penetrating peptide (CPP) complexes to increase the uptake of QD into cells. The results demonstrated that R9 and R5W3R4 form relatively stable noncovalent complexes with QDs, considerably increasing the rate and efficiency of QD uptake by A549 cells. These data suggest that cationic CPPs could efficiently transfer QDs into cells in a non-toxic manner.

Keywords::

• cell-penetrating peptides
• cellular delivery
• nanoconjugates
• quantum dots

Acknowledgments

The authors acknowledge the financial support by the “Drug Applied Research Center” and “Research Center for Pharmaceutical Nanotechnology” of Tabriz University of Medical Sciences. This study is part of an MSc thesis submitted by SM. Farkhani in the Faculty of Advanced Medical Sciences, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences.

Declaration of interest

The authors report no declarations of interest. The authors alone are responsible for the content and writing of the paper.