Hild W A, Breunig M, Goepferich A
Department of Pharmaceutical Technology, University of Regensburg, Universitaetsstrasse 31, 93040 Regensburg, Germany.
Eur J Pharm Biopharm. 2008 Feb;68(2):153-68. doi: 10.1016/j.ejpb.2007.06.009. Epub 2007 Jun 15.
Nanoparticles emerged as promising tool in drug targeting, since, after appropriate modification, they are able to deliver their payload to specific sites, like tissues, cells, or even certain cellular organelles. In this context, the delivery of nanoparticles from the circulation into the target cells represents a crucial step. Here, model drug delivery systems such as quantum dots are ideal candidates to elucidate this process in more detail, since they provide outstanding features like a small and uniform size, unique optical properties for most sensitive detection and modifiable surfaces. Recent progress in the surface chemistry of quantum dots expanded their use in biological applications, reduced their cytotoxicity and rendered quantum dots a powerful tool for the investigation of distinct cellular processes, like uptake, receptor trafficking and intracellular delivery. In this review, we will not only describe the ideal attributes of QDs for biological applications and imaging but also their distinct specific and non-specific pathways into the cells as well as their intracellular fate.
纳米颗粒已成为药物靶向领域中一种很有前景的工具，因为经过适当修饰后，它们能够将所载药物递送至特定部位，如组织、细胞，甚至某些细胞器。在此背景下，纳米颗粒从循环系统进入靶细胞是关键一步。在这里，诸如量子点之类的模型药物递送系统是更详细阐明这一过程的理想选择，因为它们具有诸如尺寸小且均匀、具有用于最灵敏检测的独特光学特性以及可修饰表面等突出特性。量子点表面化学的最新进展扩大了其在生物应用中的用途，降低了它们的细胞毒性，并使量子点成为研究诸如摄取、受体运输和细胞内递送等不同细胞过程的有力工具。在本综述中，我们不仅将描述量子点在生物应用和成像方面的理想特性，还将描述它们进入细胞的独特的特异性和非特异性途径以及它们在细胞内的命运。
