Functionalized Cellulose Nanocrystals for Cellular Labeling and Bioimaging

Biomacromolecules, vol. 22, pp. 454–466

Abstract

Cellulose nanocrystals (CNCs) are unique and promising natural nanomaterials that can be extracted from native cellulose fibers by acid hydrolysis. In this study, we developed chemically modified CNC derivatives by covalent tethering of PEGylated biotin and perylenediimide (PDI)-based near-infrared organic dye and evaluated their suitability for labeling and imaging of different cell lines including J774A.1 macrophages, NIH-3T3 fibroblasts, HeLa adenocarcinoma cells, and primary murine dendritic cells. PDI-labeled CNCs showed a superior photostability compared to similar commercially available dyes under long periods of constant and high-intensity illumination. All CNC derivatives displayed excellent cytocompatibility toward all cell types and efficiently labeled cells in a dose-dependent manner. Moreover, CNCs were effectively internalized and localized in the cytoplasm around perinuclear areas. Thus, our findings demonstrate the suitability of these new CNC derivatives for labeling, imaging, and long-time tracking of a variety of cell lines and primary cells.

Authors 13

1. Sebastian Raja corresponding Aachen Institute of Biomedical Engineering Department of Cell Biology

   Brazilian Agricultural Research Corporation · RWTH Aachen University

   Affiliation as printed

   Institute of Biomedical Engineering, Dept. of Cell Biology, RWTH Aachen University, Pauwelsstraße, 30, Aachen D-52074, Germany

   National Nanotechnology Laboratory for Agribusiness (LNNA), Embrapa Instrumentação, São Carlos-SP 13560-970, Brazil

2. Ahmed E.I. Hamouda Aachen Institute of Biomedical Engineering Department of Cell Biology

   RWTH Aachen University

   Affiliation as printed

   Institute of Biomedical Engineering, Dept. of Cell Biology, RWTH Aachen University, Pauwelsstraße, 30, Aachen D-52074, Germany

3. Marcelo A. S. Toledo Aachen Institute of Biomedical Engineering Department of Cell Biology

   RWTH Aachen University

   Affiliation as printed

   Institute of Biomedical Engineering, Dept. of Cell Biology, RWTH Aachen University, Pauwelsstraße, 30, Aachen D-52074, Germany

4. Chaolei Hu Aachen DWI - Leibniz Institute for Interactive Materials

   DWI – Leibniz Institute for Interactive Materials · RWTH Aachen University

   Affiliation as printed

   DWI-Leibniz-Institute for Interactive Materials, RWTH Aachen University, Forckenbeckstraße 50, Aachen D-52074, Germany

5. Marcela Piassi Bernardo Aachen Institute of Biomedical Engineering Department of Cell Biology

   Brazilian Agricultural Research Corporation · RWTH Aachen University

   Affiliation as printed

   Institute of Biomedical Engineering, Dept. of Cell Biology, RWTH Aachen University, Pauwelsstraße, 30, Aachen D-52074, Germany

   National Nanotechnology Laboratory for Agribusiness (LNNA), Embrapa Instrumentação, São Carlos-SP 13560-970, Brazil

6. Carmen Schalla Aachen Institute of Biomedical Engineering Department of Cell Biology

   RWTH Aachen University

   Affiliation as printed

   Institute of Biomedical Engineering, Dept. of Cell Biology, RWTH Aachen University, Pauwelsstraße, 30, Aachen D-52074, Germany

7. Liliane Samara Ferreira Leite

   Brazilian Agricultural Research Corporation

   Affiliation as printed

   National Nanotechnology Laboratory for Agribusiness (LNNA), Embrapa Instrumentação, São Carlos-SP 13560-970, Brazil

8. Eva Miriam Buhl Aachen Institute for Pathology, Electron Microscopy Facility

   RWTH Aachen University

   Affiliation as printed

   Institute for Pathology, Electron Microscopy Facility, RWTH Aachen University, Pauwelsstraße, 30, Aachen D-52074, Germany

9. Stephan Dreschers Aachen Klinik für Kinder- und Jugendmedizin

   Universitätsklinikum Aachen · RWTH Aachen University

   Affiliation as printed

   Klinik für Kinder- und Jugendmedizin, RWTH Aachen University, Pauwelsstraße, 30, Aachen D-52074, Germany

10. Andrij Pich Aachen DWI - Leibniz Institute for Interactive Materials

    DWI – Leibniz Institute for Interactive Materials · RWTH Aachen University

    Affiliation as printed

    DWI-Leibniz-Institute for Interactive Materials, RWTH Aachen University, Forckenbeckstraße 50, Aachen D-52074, Germany

11. Martin Zenke Aachen Institute of Biomedical Engineering Department of Cell Biology

    RWTH Aachen University

    Affiliation as printed

    Institute of Biomedical Engineering, Dept. of Cell Biology, RWTH Aachen University, Pauwelsstraße, 30, Aachen D-52074, Germany

12. L. H. C. Mattoso

    Brazilian Agricultural Research Corporation

    Affiliation as printed

    National Nanotechnology Laboratory for Agribusiness (LNNA), Embrapa Instrumentação, São Carlos-SP 13560-970, Brazil

13. Antonio S. Sechi corresponding Aachen Institute of Biomedical Engineering Department of Cell Biology

    RWTH Aachen University

    Affiliation as printed

    Institute of Biomedical Engineering, Dept. of Cell Biology, RWTH Aachen University, Pauwelsstraße, 30, Aachen D-52074, Germany