Drug-loaded fluorescent cubosomes: versatile nanoparticles for potential theranostic applications

Langmuir. 2013 Jun 4;29(22):6673-9. doi: 10.1021/la401047a. Epub 2013 May 17.

Abstract

In this work, monoolein-based cubosomes were doped with two fluorescent probes, namely, fluorescein and dansyl, properly modified with a hydrocarbon chain to increase their encapsulation efficiency within the monoolein palisade. The same nanocarriers were also loaded with quercetin, a hydrophobic molecule with potential anticancer activity. Particularly, the cubosomes doped with the modified fluorescein probe were successfully exploited for single living cell imaging. The physicochemical and photophysical characterizations reported here, along with the well-known ability of cubosomes in hosting molecules with pharmaceutical interest, strongly encourage the use of these innovative fluorescent nanocarriers for theranostic purposes.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic / pharmacology
  • Cell Survival / drug effects
  • Drug Compounding / methods
  • Fluorescein
  • Fluorescent Dyes
  • Glycerides / chemistry*
  • Glycerides / pharmacology
  • Humans
  • Mice
  • Microscopy, Fluorescence
  • NIH 3T3 Cells
  • Nanoparticles / chemistry*
  • Nanoparticles / ultrastructure
  • Particle Size
  • Phosphatidylcholines
  • Precision Medicine
  • Quercetin / pharmacology
  • Single-Cell Analysis

Substances

  • 1-myristoyl-2-(12-((5-dimethylamino-1-naphthalenesulfonyl)amino)dodecanoyl)-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine
  • Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic
  • Fluorescent Dyes
  • Glycerides
  • Phosphatidylcholines
  • Quercetin
  • monoolein
  • Fluorescein