Wednesday, 11 July, 2012
Tuning Nanoparticle Uptake: Live-Cell Imaging Reveals Two Distinct Endocytosis Mechanisms Mediated by Natural and Artificial EGFR Targeting Ligand
F. M. Mickler, L. Möckl, N. Ruthardt, M. Ogris, E. Wagner, and C. Bräuchle -
Nano Lett., Vol. 12 (7), pp. 3417-3423 (2012)
Therapeutic nanoparticles can be directed to cancer cells by incorporating selective targeting ligands. Here, we investigate the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR)-mediated endocytosis of gene carriers (polyplexes) either targeted with natural EGF or GE11, a short synthetic EGFR-binding peptide. Highly sensitive live-cell fluorescence microcopy with single particle resolution unraveled the existence of two different uptake mechanisms; EGF triggers accelerated nanoparticle endocytosis due to its dual active role in receptor binding and signaling activation. For GE11, an alternative EGFR signaling independent, actin-driven pathway is presented.