Abstract
Various inorganic nanoparticles are being considered for applications in life science as fluorescent labels and for such therapeutic applications as drug delivery or targeted cell destruction. It is of importance to understand their intercellular transport behaviors and mechanisms. Here, the intercellular transport of internalized CdTe quantum dot (QD) aggregates through tunneling-nanotubes (TNTs) between human hepatocellular carcinoma cells was studied by time-resolved confocal fluorescence microscopy. TNTs are known to connect eukaryotic cells to provide important pathways for intercellular communications. The formation, shrinkage, elongation and rupture of TNTs were clearly observed by microscopy. We found TNTs contained only F-actin or both microtubules and F-actin. Two transport modes for QD aggregates through the TNTs were observed: the microtubule-based bidirectional motion and the ac-tin-dependent unidirectional motion. The mean square displacement analyses revealed that the intercellular transportations of QDs along TNTs were mediated by active processes. The bidirectional intercellular transport of QDs within lysosomes through the TNT was also observed.
Highlights
The tunneling-nanotubes (TNTs) were originally described by Gerdes et al for cultured rat neuronal PC12 cells in 2004 [1]
The intercellular transport of internalized CdTe quantum dot (QD) aggregates through tunneling-nanotubes (TNTs) between human hepatocellular carcinoma cells was studied by time-resolved confocal fluorescence microscopy
The mean square displacement analyses revealed that the intercellular transportations of QDs along TNTs were mediated by active processes
Summary
The tunneling-nanotubes (TNTs) were originally described by Gerdes et al for cultured rat neuronal PC12 cells in 2004 [1]. The lengths of TNTs can reach several cell diameters [1] They were observed in a variety of cell types both in vivo and in vitro, including the mouse corneal [2], neuronal [1,3], myeloid [4,5,6,7], immune [6,7,8,9,10,11], epithelial [1,12,13,14,15] and mast cells [16].
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
