Charaterization and Mechanisms of Green Tea Catechins in Facilitating Cellular Uptake of Nanoparticles

Characterization and Mechanisms of the Enhancing Effects of Tea Catechins on Cellular Uptake of Nanoparticles Nanoparticles may be used as drug carriers in target therapeutics. We and others have previously demonstrated targeting effects for delivery of therapeutic agents in treatment of solid tumors and thromboembolism using magnetic nanoparticles (MNP) as carriers under magnetic guidance in animal models. In drug delivery system, cellular uptake of nanoparticles may be critical in determining the drug efficacy in different applications. High cellular uptake may be essential for delivery of drugs to the intracellular drug target, whereas lower cellular uptake may preserve drugs acting on extracellular or intravascular target. Therefore, understanding the characteristics and mechanisms of nanoparticle entering cells may be crucial for design of the carriers in a particular application. Characteristics of the surface of nanoparticles usually play a crucial role in determining the cellular uptake; however, certain reagents may also modify the uptake mechanism to facilitate or inhibit the uptake. Our preliminary data have indicated that green tea catechins exert an effect in facilitating nanoparticle uptake. Since these polyphenols have been shown to induce a variety of effects, including anti-oxidant, anti-proliferation, and anti-angiogenesis etc., it is likely that the catechins may act by modifying membrane-related mechanism. We plan to test following hypothesis: “Tea catechins may enhance nanoparticle uptake by modifying the interaction of nanoparticles and plasma membrane of tumor cells.” The following aims are proposed: Specific Aims Aim 1- to determine the characteristics of the effects of catechins on nanoparticle uptake Aim 2- to determine the surface characteristics of nanoparticles on the effects of catechins Aim 3- to determine the mechanisms of catechins on nanoparticle uptake Aim 4- to optimize the effects of tea catechins on nanoparticle uptake

Project ID:PC10108-0820
External Project ID:NSC101-2320-B182-038