We use cookies to understand how you use our site and to improve your experience. This includes personalizing content and advertising. To learn more, click here. By continuing to use our site, you accept our use of cookies. Cookie Policy.

Features Partner Sites Information LinkXpress hp
Sign In
Advertise with Us
LGC Clinical Diagnostics

Download Mobile App




Fluorinated Nanoparticles Facilitate Drug Transfer to Cellular Cytosol

By LabMedica International staff writers
Posted on 22 Jan 2019
In a proof-of-principle study, novel "nanoflower" drug transporters were used to successfully deliver model drug analogues to cells growing in culture.

Despite advances in the development of nanoparticle-based drug transport systems, very few nanomaterials can be efficiently delivered to the cellular cytosol. More...
Investigators at Washington State University (Pullman, USA) chose to attack this problem by designing crystalline nanoflower‐like particles, which were synthesized from fluorinated sequence‐defined peptoids.

In peptoids the side chain is connected to the nitrogen of the peptide backbone, instead of the alpha-carbon as in peptides. Notably, peptoids lack the amide hydrogen, which is responsible for many of the secondary structure elements in peptides and proteins. In addition, peptoids are not vulnerable to degradation by protease enzymes.

The inclusion of fluorine into the nanoparticle matrix guaranteed that the crystallinity and fluorination of the particles would enable highly efficient cytosolic delivery with minimal cytotoxicity. Fluorination increased lipophilicity because the bond was more hydrophobic than the carbon–hydrogen bond, and helped in cell membrane penetration and hence bioavailability. An added bonus was the fact that the trifluoromethyl moiety is one of the most lipophilic groups known, which has big advantages for the particles' bioavailability.

The investigators crafted flower-like particles of about 150 nanometers in size from sheets of fluorinated peptoids with added fluorescent probes. They reported in the December 27, 2018, issue of the journal, Small that a cytosol delivery rate of 80% had been achieved for the fluorinated peptoid nanoflowers.

These nanocrystals could be adapted to carry therapeutic genes, such as mRNA and effectively deliver the payload into the cytosol, demonstrating the universal delivery capability of the nanocrystals. The results indicated that self‐assembly of crystalline nanomaterials from fluorinated peptoids paved a new way toward development of nanocargoes with efficient cytosolic gene delivery capability.

"To develop nanotechnology for medical purposes, the first thing to consider is toxicity -- That is the first concern for doctors," said senior author Dr. Yueh Lin, professor of mechanical and materials engineering at Washington State University. "The nanoflowers successfully and rapidly escaped and exhibited minimal cytotoxicity. This paves a new way for us to develop nanocargoes that can efficiently deliver drug molecules into the cell and offers new opportunities for targeted gene therapies."

Washington State University filed a patent application for the new technology and is seeking industrial partners for further development.

Related Links:
Washington State University


Gold Member
Fully Automated Cell Density/Viability Analyzer
BioProfile FAST CDV
3-Part Differential Hematology Analyzer
Swelab Alfa Plus Sampler
New
Toxoplasma Gondii Test
Toxo IgG ELISA
New
Vasculitis Diagnostic Test
AESKULISA Vasculitis-Screen
Read the full article by registering today, it's FREE! It's Free!
Register now for FREE to LabMedica.com and get access to news and events that shape the world of Clinical Laboratory Medicine.
  • Free digital version edition of LabMedica International sent by email on regular basis
  • Free print version of LabMedica International magazine (available only outside USA and Canada).
  • Free and unlimited access to back issues of LabMedica International in digital format
  • Free LabMedica International Newsletter sent every week containing the latest news
  • Free breaking news sent via email
  • Free access to Events Calendar
  • Free access to LinkXpress new product services
  • REGISTRATION IS FREE AND EASY!
Click here to Register








Channels

Molecular Diagnostics

view channel
Image: Gut microbes may help in recognizing and treating pancreatic cancer (Photo courtesy of Adobe Stock)

Gut Microbes Could Enable Early Detection and Treatment of Pancreatic Cancer

Pancreatic cancer remains one of the most serious and challenging diseases in oncology due to its difficulty in detection and limited treatment options. Now, a new international collaborative study suggests... Read more

Hematology

view channel
Image: CitoCBC is the world first cartridge-based CBC to be granted CLIA Waived status by FDA (Photo courtesy of CytoChip)

Disposable Cartridge-Based Test Delivers Rapid and Accurate CBC Results

Complete Blood Count (CBC) is one of the most commonly ordered lab tests, crucial for diagnosing diseases, monitoring therapies, and conducting routine health screenings. However, more than 90% of physician... Read more

Immunology

view channel
Image: The tip optofluidic immunoassay platform enables rapid, multiplexed antibody profiling using only 1 μL of fingertip blood (Photo courtesy of hLife, DOI:10.1016/j.hlife.2025.04.005)

POC Diagnostic Platform Performs Immune Analysis Using One Drop of Fingertip Blood

As new COVID-19 variants continue to emerge and individuals accumulate complex histories of vaccination and infection, there is an urgent need for diagnostic tools that can quickly and accurately assess... Read more

Microbiology

view channel
Image: The U.S. FDA-cleared IntelliSep rapid host response diagnostic represents a breakthrough in sepsis care (Photo courtesy of Cytovale)

Rapid Diagnostic Test Slashes Sepsis Mortality by 39%

Sepsis remains one of the most challenging and fatal conditions in contemporary healthcare, accounting for nearly one-third of all hospital-related deaths in the United States. In emergency departments... Read more

Industry

view channel
Image: The knowledge transfer partnership will further develop technology to rapidly diagnose serious and high-risk infectious diseases (Photo courtesy of Aston University)

Aston University and BG Research Partner to Commercialize Groundbreaking Medical Diagnostic

Technology that can rapidly diagnose high-consequence infectious diseases will take a major step forward towards commercialization, thanks to a new partnership. A Knowledge Transfer Partnership (KTP)... Read more
Copyright © 2000-2025 Globetech Media. All rights reserved.