Effect of 3-MPA coated CdSe-CdS/ZnS quantum dots on the uptake, proliferation and migration of human umbilical vein endothelial cells

Abstract

Objective To explore the effects of 3-mercaptopropionic acid (3-MPA) coated CdSe-CdS/ZnS quantum dots (3-MPA-QDs) on the uptake, proliferation and migration of human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC), and to study the biotoxicity of 3-MPA-QDs, so as to provide the theoretical basis for the development of quantum dot photosensitizers. Methods The short-term (6 h) uptakes of 3-MPA-QDs and the small molecule photosensitizer protoporphyrin IX (PpIX) in HUVEC cells were real-time observed and compared by a laser confocal scanning microscope. Besides, the uptakes within 48 h as well as the effects of the uptake on morphology and proliferation of HUVEC were also observed. The effect of 3-MPA-QDs on the migration of HUVEC cells within 24 h was observed using a grid dish. LysoTrackerTM Deep Red was used to label lysosomes, and the endocytosis mechanism of 3-MPA-QDs was observed by fluorescence co-localization. Results The fluorescence of 3-MPA-QDs in the HUVEC showed a continuous rising trend within 6 h, weakened after 24 h, and then turned weaker after 48h of the uptake, which is different from the up-saturation absorption pattern of PpIX. However, the fluorescence signal was still clear and bright which indicate 3-MPA-QDs were passaged into newborn cells. Migration experiments showed that the target cells carrying 3-MPA-QDs migrated 50 μm grids within 24 h, indicating the cell migration ability was not significantly affected. Co-localization results showed that 3-MPA-QDs localized in lysosomes. Conclusions The 3-MPA-QDs localized in lysosome, and they were easy to be absorbed and hard to be excreted by HUVEC. However, no obvious effects of 3-MPA-QDs were observed on cell proliferation and migration. Key words: Quantum dot; Human umbilical vein endothelial cells; Cell proliferation; Cell migration; Lysosome