Delivery and Tracking of Quantum Dot Peptide Bioconjugates in an Intact Developing Avian Brain

摘要: Luminescent semiconductor ∼9.5 nm nanoparticles (quantum dots: QDs) have intrinsic physiochemical and optical properties which enable us to begin understand the mechanisms of nanoparticle mediated chemical/drug delivery. Here, we demonstrate ability CdSe/ZnS core/shell QDs surface functionalized with a zwitterionic compact ligand deliver cell-penetrating lipopeptide developing chick embryo brain without any apparent toxicity. Functionalized were conjugated palmitoylated peptide WGDap(Palmitoyl)VKIKKP9GGH6, previously shown uniquely facilitate endosomal escape, microinjected into embryonic spinal cord canal at day 4 (E4). We subsequently able follow labeling extension ventricles, migratory neuroblasts, maturing cells, complex structures such as choroid plexus. QD intensity extended throughout brain, peaked between E8 E11 when fluorescence was concentrated in plexus before decli...