Overviews on the cellular uptake mechanism of polysaccharide colloidal nanoparticles

Abstract

Nanoparticulate drug/gene carriers have gained much attention in the past decades because of their versatile and tunable properties. However, efficacy of the therapeutic agents can be further enhanced using naturally occurring materials‐based nanoparticles. Polysaccharides are an emerging class of biopolymers; therefore, they are generally considered to be safe, non‐toxic, biocompatible and biodegradable. Considering that the target of nanoparticle‐based therapeutic strategies is localization of biomedical agents in subcellular compartments, a detailed understanding of the cellular mechanism involved in the uptake of polysaccharide‐based nanoparticles is essential for safe and efficient therapeutic applications. Uptake of the nanoparticles by the cellular systems occurs with a process known as endocytosis and is influenced by the physicochemical characteristics of nanoparticles such as size, shape and surface chemistry as well as the employed experimental conditions. In this study, we highlight the main endocytosis mechanisms responsible for the cellular uptake of polysaccharide nanoparticles containing drug/gene.

Manganese‐Zinc Ferrites: Safe and Efficient Nanolabels for Cell Imaging and Tracking In Vivo

“…A higher relaxation rate can be attained using iron oxidebased nanoparticles with modified coating or using transfection agents, [32] which improve their uptake. [24] However, a substantially higher iron content is also generated, which threatens viability by oxidative stress. [33] Saccharide coating in particular may be metabolized, thus exposing the core to the cell environment.…”

“…[22] Polysaccharides are widely used, [23] as they are biocompatible and can ease cellular uptake. [24] Although in some applications polysaccharide biodegradability is preferential, in the case of diagnostic nanoparticles it is questionable. As polysaccharides can be metabolized, [25] they do not offer a stable coating, thus leaving the bare iron oxide (or other magnetic core) exposed to the cellular environment.…”

Polysaccharide Based Nanoparticles

“…Upon endocytosis, nanomaterials are enclosed within the early endocytic vesicles and are thus not directly carried into the cytosol. In contrast, the nanomaterials internalized via membrane penetration are directly transferred into the cytoplasm, which can be the preferred choice particularly for the targeted drug delivery …”

“…The use of polysaccharide‐based nanoparticles are additionally advantageous as they are found virtually in all living organisms and their application does not exhibit toxic effects to the organisms owing to their intrinsic biocompatibility and biodegradability that ensure safe therapies . These nanoparticles are commonly fabricated through ionotropic gelation and self‐assembly of polyelectrolytes, a relatively simple procedure that does not require the use of organic solvents and operated in mild temperature and pressure condition .…”

Electroconductive hyaluronic acid/gelatin/poly(ethylene oxide) polymeric film reinforced by reduced graphene oxide

“…One of the most notable biopolymers used to produce polymeric films is hyaluronic acid, since HyA, also called hyaluronan, has many features, such as nontoxicity, biocompatibility, hydrophilicity, biodegradability, nonimmunogenicity, good chemical stability, and considerable water‐uptake capacity. These excellent properties allow it to be used in many biomedical applications . The carboxylic acid (COOH) groups in HyA provide one of the best functional moieties for conjugation to an optimum number of drugs or targeting ligands .…”