Optimizing electroporation assisted silver nanoparticle delivery into living C666 cells for surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy

Abstract

Abstract. Electroporation assisted metallic nanoparticle delivery has been shown by our previous work to significantly reduce the time of sample preparation for surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) measurements of biological cells. In this paper, we report our experimental work to optimize the electroporation parameters, including adjustment of the pulse pattern, operation temperature, and electroporation buffer, for fastest delivery of silver nanoparticles into living C666 cells (a human nasopharyngeal carcinoma cell line). The delivery efficiency was evaluated by the integrated intensity of whole cell SERS spectrum. Our work concluded that the silver nanoparticle delivery rate is best under the electroporation condition of using 4 consecutive 350 V (875 V/cm) rectangular electric pulses of 1, 10, 10 and 1 ms durations, respectively. Low temperature (0-4• C) is necessary for keeping cell viability during the electroporation process and it also improves the delivery efficiency of silver nanoparticles. The serum in the buffer has no obvious effect on the delivery efficiency.

A simple and rapid detection of tissue adhesive-induced biochemical changes in cells and DNA using Raman spectroscopy

“…The potential of Raman spectroscopy for the analysis of effects of external agents (anticancer drugs, nanoparticles and CNT) on the cell has been demonstrated [21][22][23][24][25][26]. Candeloro et al reported the cytotoxic effects of Ag and Fe 3 O 4 nanoparticles on HeLa cells using Raman spectroscopy [27].…”

Investigation of ac-magnetic field stimulated nanoelectroporation of magneto-electric nano-drug-carrier inside CNS cells

“…Surprisingly, in presence of metal NCs a severe cellular damage and toxicity was observed even at lowest achievable electroporation parameters, single pulse of 1 ms with electric field strength of 0.5 kV cm −1  24. Thus, optimization of electroporation to achieve efficient intracellular delivery of a therapeutic cargo is challenging but critical and immediately required2627.…”

SERS in Cells: from Concepts to Practical Applications

“…In some Raman experiments, nanoparticle injection was chosen to administer metal nanoparticles into cells for SERS experiments, to avoid interaction of the nanoparticles with components of the cell culture medium and to achieve direct targeting of the cytosol [37], or to reach one specific cell [38]. Others have used electroporation for the direct uptake of nanoparticles [39][40][41].…”