Laboratory of Biophysics and Surface Analysis, School of Pharmacy, University of Nottingham, University Park, Nottingham, UK.
Integr Biol (Camb). 2009 Apr;1(4):318-23. doi: 10.1039/b822569a. Epub 2009 Mar 3.
Nanosensors offer the opportunity to measure intracellular domains with minimal chemical or physical perturbation. Typically only 50 nm in diameter, and synthesised from bio-compatible polymer matrices, they entrap chemical sensing elements and can be surface functionalised allowing for further chemical modification. Upon intracellular localisation the cellular environment can be monitored using conventional techniques such as confocal laser scanning microscopy. Reported here is the use of nanosensors to investigate the mechanisms of intracellular delivery mediated via the cell penetrating peptide, Tat. Information obtained from the nanosensors shows that the post-delivery environment is representative of a lysosome in terms of both pH and morphology. The delivery mechanism of Tat, however, is shown to be dependent upon the cargo being delivered, corresponding to the absence or presence of a body of polymer matrix; thus nanosensors have been used to further the understanding of the cell penetrating mechanisms of Tat peptide.
纳米传感器提供了一种机会，可以在最小的化学或物理干扰下测量细胞内结构域。这些纳米传感器的直径通常只有 50nm，由生物相容性聚合物基质合成，它们可以捕获化学传感元件，并可以进行表面功能化，以进行进一步的化学修饰。在细胞内定位后，可以使用共聚焦激光扫描显微镜等常规技术监测细胞环境。本文报道了使用纳米传感器来研究通过穿透肽 Tat 介导的细胞内传递的机制。从纳米传感器获得的信息表明，在 pH 值和形态方面，传递后的环境都类似于溶酶体。然而，Tat 的传递机制取决于被传递的货物，对应于聚合物基质的存在或不存在；因此，纳米传感器已被用于进一步了解 Tat 肽的细胞穿透机制。
