Fe₂O₃ nanoparticles (NPs) have been synthesized and functionalized with SiO₂ and -NH₂ group, respectively. Conjugation to fluorescently-labeled poly-caspase inhibitor (SR-FLIVO) has been carried out for better cellular uptake studies of apoptosis arising from brain focal cerebral ischemia. Highest conjugation affinity to SR-FLIVO was found to be ca. 80% for Fe₂O₃-SiO-NH₂ functionalized nanoparticles (FNPs). Tracking of SR-FLIVO conjugated functionalized nanoparticles (SR-FLIVO-FNPs) in vivo and in vitro has been carried out and detected using microscopic techniques after histochemical staining methods. Experimental results revealed that SR-FLIVO-FNPs probe could passively cross the blood brain barrier (BBB) and accumulated within the apoptotic cell. Optimization of SR-FLIVO-FNPs probe can effectively promise to open a new era for intracellular drug delivery and brain diagnosis.
Keywords: apoptosis; brain diagnosis; fluorescently-labeled poly-caspase inhibitor (SR-FLIVO); functionalized nanoparticles (FNPs).