Cell-Penetrating Peptides Transport Noncovalently Linked Thermally Activated Delayed Fluorescence Nanoparticles for Time-Resolved Luminescence Imaging

J Am Chem Soc. 2018 Dec 19;140(50):17484-17491. doi: 10.1021/jacs.8b08438. Epub 2018 Dec 10.

Abstract

Luminescent probes and nanoparticles (NPs) with long excited state lifetimes are essential for time-resolved biological imaging. Generally, cell membranes are physiological barriers that could prevent the uptake of many unnatural compounds. It is still a big challenge to prepare biocompatible imaging agents with high cytomembrane permeability, especially for nonmetallic NPs with long-lived luminescence. Herein, an amphiphilic cell-penetrating peptide, F6G6(rR)3R2, was designed to transport hydrophobic fluorophores across cellular barriers. Three classical thermally activated delayed fluorescence (TADF) molecules, 4CzIPN, NAI-DPAC, and BTZ-DMAC, could self-assemble into well-dispersed NPs with F6G6(rR)3R2 in aqueous solution. These NPs showed low cytotoxicity and could penetrate membranes easily. Moreover, long-lived TADF enabled them to be used in time-resolved luminescence imaging in oxygenic environments. These findings greatly expanded the applications of cell-penetrating peptides for delivery of molecules and NPs by only noncovalent interactions, which were more flexible and easier than covalent modifications.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • 3T3 Cells
  • Animals
  • Cell Membrane / metabolism
  • Cell-Penetrating Peptides / chemistry
  • Cell-Penetrating Peptides / metabolism*
  • Cell-Penetrating Peptides / toxicity
  • Drug Carriers / chemistry
  • Drug Carriers / metabolism*
  • Drug Carriers / toxicity
  • Fluorescence
  • Fluorescent Dyes / chemistry*
  • Fluorescent Dyes / toxicity
  • HeLa Cells
  • Humans
  • Hydrophobic and Hydrophilic Interactions
  • Mice
  • Microscopy, Confocal
  • Microscopy, Fluorescence
  • Nanoparticles / chemistry*
  • Nanoparticles / toxicity
  • Temperature

Substances

  • Cell-Penetrating Peptides
  • Drug Carriers
  • Fluorescent Dyes