Cyclopamine-Paclitaxel-Containing Nanoparticles: Internalization in Cells Detected by Confocal and Super-Resolution Microscopy

Abstract

Cyclopamine- and paclitaxel-containing hetero-nanoparticles generated by self-assembly show combined efficacy in the treatment of three different cancer cell lines. The use of ternary combination with the addition of a dye-squalene conjugate secured the obtainment of fluorescent nanoparticles that permitted the observation of the cellular internalization by confocal microscopy and super-resolution dSTORM (direct stochastic optical reconstruction microscopy).

Keywords: cancer stem cells; cyclopamine; nanoparticles; paclitaxel.