Figure 3
Cellular uptake studies. (a) Rhodamine-labeled nanoparticles with varying valency of VLA4-pep conjugates (n=0–40/nanoparticle) were prepared and incubated with NCI-H929 cells at 37 °C for the indicated time points. N=20 peptide conjugates per nanoparticle triggered the most efficient uptake as determined by flow cytometry. (b) In a separate experiment, control experiments with NPns, and competition experiment with excess free VLA4-pep (2 mM) was performed to determine receptor-mediated specificity of nanoparticle uptake. Data represent means (±s.d.) of triplicate experiments. (c) Internalization of VLA-4-targeting nanoparticles was confirmed with a Nikon A1R confocal microscope using a × 40 oil lens. Image acquisition was performed by Nikon Elements Ar software.
