A preliminary study on the interaction between Asn-Gly-Arg (NGR)-modified multifunctional nanoparticles and vascular epithelial cells

Liu, Chunxi; Liu, Tingxian; Yu, Xiaoyue; Gu, Yizhu

Recently, a NGR-modified multifunctional poly(ethyleneimine)-poly(ethylene glycol) (PEI-PEG)-based nanoparticle (TPIC) has been developed in our group for drug and gene combination therapy, which could enhance the gene transfection efficiency and antitumor activity in vitro 34 . As a continued effort, the focus of our proceeding studies was to study the exact mechanism involved and clarify whether NGR can interact with CD13 and mediate the subsequent CvME. In the present study, both CD13-and CAV1-positive HUVEC were selected as test cells, and the previously formulated TPIC was the test nanocarrier. Using flow cytometry and confocal laser scanning technology, we presently investigated the co-localization of CD13 and CAV1, the effect of TPIC on this co-localization, the interaction between TPIC and CD13 or TPIC and CAV1, the kinetics of the resulting endocytosis, the effects of endocytosis inhibitors, and factors influencing the internalization of TPIC.