| AVS 62nd International Symposium & Exhibition | |
| Biomaterial Interfaces | Monday Sessions |
| Session BI+AS-MoM |
| Session: | Characterization of Biological and Biomaterials Surfaces (1) |
| Presenter: | Daniel Graham, University of Washington |
| Authors: | D.J. Graham, University of Washington J.T. Wilson, Vanderbilt University J. Lai, University of Washington L.J. Gamble, University of Washington P.S. Stayton, University of Washington D.G. Castner, University of Washington |
| Correspondent: | Click to Email |
Polymeric nanoparticles have shown promise for delivery of therapeutics intracellularly. The diversity of polymer chemical and physical properties enables a wide range of cellular targeting and applications. We have initiated a project investigating the use of 3D ToF-SIMS imaging to localize and characterize polymer nanoparticles within cells. Though other imaging modalities can localize polymer nanoparticles in cells, ToF-SIMS presents the advantage of localization combined with chemical characterization of the particles and the surrounding cell. However, the ability to locate polymer nanoparticles in cells is complicated by the fact that most polymers are made of organic elements such as C, N, and O and produce secondary ion fragments that are the same as those generated from the surrounding cell. Herein we will demonstrate a method we have developed to isolate polymer nanoparticle signal from cell signal and generate 3D images of nanoparticle clusters within cells. Initial results with polymer nanoparticles targeted for endosomal uptake showed punctate localization of nanoparticle clusters within areas consistent with endosomal localization. Areas enriched in nanoparticles could be localized in spite of peak overlap of polymer and cellular signals.