Effect of hyaluronic acid molecular weight on the morphology of quantum dot-hyaluronic acid conjugates

Int J Biol Macromol. 2008 Jan 1;42(1):41-5. doi: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2007.09.002. Epub 2007 Sep 11.

Abstract

The morphological analysis of novel quantum dot-hyaluronic acid (QDot-HA) conjugates was carried out with a transmission electron microscope (TEM). Adipic acid dihydrazide-modified HA (HA-ADH) was synthesized and conjugated to quantum dots (QDots) having carboxyl terminal ligands which were activated with 1-ethyl-3-(3-dimethylaminopropyl) carbodiimide (EDC) and N-hydroxysulfosuccinimide (sulfo-NHS). HA molecules with a molecular weight (MW) of 20K, 234 K and 3000 K were used to investigate the effect of MW on the morphology of QDot-HA conjugates. The TEM micrographs of QDot-HA conjugates showed branched and multi-layered chain type morphology formed by inter- and intra-molecular conjugation of QDots to HA molecules. The size of QDot-HA conjugate increased with the MW of HA. QDot-HA conjugate could be successfully used for real-time bio-imaging of HA derivatives in nude mice. The novel QDot-HA conjugate will be further used to investigate the biological roles of HA with a different MW in the body.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Ethyldimethylaminopropyl Carbodiimide / chemistry*
  • Hyaluronic Acid / chemistry*
  • Hyaluronic Acid / metabolism
  • Mice
  • Mice, Nude
  • Microscopy, Electron, Transmission
  • Molecular Weight
  • Quantum Dots*
  • Succinimides / chemistry*
  • Whole Body Imaging*

Substances

  • Succinimides
  • N-hydroxysulfosuccinimide
  • Hyaluronic Acid
  • Ethyldimethylaminopropyl Carbodiimide