Surface Charge Affects the Intracellular Fate and Clearance Dynamics of CdSe/ZnS Quantum Dots in Macrophages

The biological effects of nanoparticles are closely related to their intracellular content and location, both of which are influenced by various factors. This study investigates the effects of surface charge on the uptake, intracellular distribution, and exocytosis of CdSe/ZnS quantum dots (QDs) in...

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Main Authors: Yuan-Yuan Liu, Yong-Yue Sun, Yuan Guo, Lu-Lu Chen, Jun-Hao Guo, Haifang Wang
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-08-01
Series:Nanomaterials
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2079-4991/15/15/1189
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author Yuan-Yuan Liu
Yong-Yue Sun
Yuan Guo
Lu-Lu Chen
Jun-Hao Guo
Haifang Wang
author_facet Yuan-Yuan Liu
Yong-Yue Sun
Yuan Guo
Lu-Lu Chen
Jun-Hao Guo
Haifang Wang
author_sort Yuan-Yuan Liu
collection DOAJ
description The biological effects of nanoparticles are closely related to their intracellular content and location, both of which are influenced by various factors. This study investigates the effects of surface charge on the uptake, intracellular distribution, and exocytosis of CdSe/ZnS quantum dots (QDs) in Raw264.7 macrophages. Negatively charged 3-mercaptopropanoic acid functionalized QDs (QDs-MPA) show higher cellular uptake than positively charged 2-mercaptoethylamine functionalized QDs (QDs-MEA), and serum enhances the uptake of both types of QDs via protein corona-mediated receptor endocytosis. QDs-MEA primarily enter the cells through clathrin/caveolae-mediated pathways and predominantly accumulate in lysosomes, while QDs-MPA are mainly internalized through clathrin-mediated endocytosis and localize to both lysosomes and mitochondria. Exocytosis of QDs-MPA is faster and more efficient than that of QDs-MEA, though both exhibit limited excretion. In addition to endocytosis and exocytosis, cell division influences intracellular QD content over time. These results reveal the charge-dependent interactions between QDs and macrophages, providing a basis for designing biocompatible nanomaterials.
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issn 2079-4991
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publishDate 2025-08-01
publisher MDPI AG
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series Nanomaterials
spelling doaj-art-21e23ace667744e8abf85280a75973d32025-08-20T03:36:27ZengMDPI AGNanomaterials2079-49912025-08-011515118910.3390/nano15151189Surface Charge Affects the Intracellular Fate and Clearance Dynamics of CdSe/ZnS Quantum Dots in MacrophagesYuan-Yuan Liu0Yong-Yue Sun1Yuan Guo2Lu-Lu Chen3Jun-Hao Guo4Haifang Wang5Institute of Nanochemistry and Nanobiology, Shanghai University, Shanghai 200444, ChinaInstitute of Nanochemistry and Nanobiology, Shanghai University, Shanghai 200444, ChinaInstitute of Nanochemistry and Nanobiology, Shanghai University, Shanghai 200444, ChinaInstitute of Nanochemistry and Nanobiology, Shanghai University, Shanghai 200444, ChinaInstitute of Nanochemistry and Nanobiology, Shanghai University, Shanghai 200444, ChinaInstitute of Nanochemistry and Nanobiology, Shanghai University, Shanghai 200444, ChinaThe biological effects of nanoparticles are closely related to their intracellular content and location, both of which are influenced by various factors. This study investigates the effects of surface charge on the uptake, intracellular distribution, and exocytosis of CdSe/ZnS quantum dots (QDs) in Raw264.7 macrophages. Negatively charged 3-mercaptopropanoic acid functionalized QDs (QDs-MPA) show higher cellular uptake than positively charged 2-mercaptoethylamine functionalized QDs (QDs-MEA), and serum enhances the uptake of both types of QDs via protein corona-mediated receptor endocytosis. QDs-MEA primarily enter the cells through clathrin/caveolae-mediated pathways and predominantly accumulate in lysosomes, while QDs-MPA are mainly internalized through clathrin-mediated endocytosis and localize to both lysosomes and mitochondria. Exocytosis of QDs-MPA is faster and more efficient than that of QDs-MEA, though both exhibit limited excretion. In addition to endocytosis and exocytosis, cell division influences intracellular QD content over time. These results reveal the charge-dependent interactions between QDs and macrophages, providing a basis for designing biocompatible nanomaterials.https://www.mdpi.com/2079-4991/15/15/1189macrophagesquantum dotssurface chargecellular uptakeexocytosis
spellingShingle Yuan-Yuan Liu
Yong-Yue Sun
Yuan Guo
Lu-Lu Chen
Jun-Hao Guo
Haifang Wang
Surface Charge Affects the Intracellular Fate and Clearance Dynamics of CdSe/ZnS Quantum Dots in Macrophages
Nanomaterials
macrophages
quantum dots
surface charge
cellular uptake
exocytosis
title Surface Charge Affects the Intracellular Fate and Clearance Dynamics of CdSe/ZnS Quantum Dots in Macrophages
title_full Surface Charge Affects the Intracellular Fate and Clearance Dynamics of CdSe/ZnS Quantum Dots in Macrophages
title_fullStr Surface Charge Affects the Intracellular Fate and Clearance Dynamics of CdSe/ZnS Quantum Dots in Macrophages
title_full_unstemmed Surface Charge Affects the Intracellular Fate and Clearance Dynamics of CdSe/ZnS Quantum Dots in Macrophages
title_short Surface Charge Affects the Intracellular Fate and Clearance Dynamics of CdSe/ZnS Quantum Dots in Macrophages
title_sort surface charge affects the intracellular fate and clearance dynamics of cdse zns quantum dots in macrophages
topic macrophages
quantum dots
surface charge
cellular uptake
exocytosis
url https://www.mdpi.com/2079-4991/15/15/1189
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AT yuanguo surfacechargeaffectstheintracellularfateandclearancedynamicsofcdseznsquantumdotsinmacrophages
AT luluchen surfacechargeaffectstheintracellularfateandclearancedynamicsofcdseznsquantumdotsinmacrophages
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