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Targeting EGFR-overexpressed A431 cells with EGF-labeled silica-coated magnetic nanoparticles

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Abstract

Human epidermal growth-factor receptor (EGFR) has emerged as an attractive target for cancer therapy. In this study, amino- or carboxyl-functionalized silica-coated maghemite nanoparticles were conjugated with epidermal growth-factor (EGF) using five different binding modes: carbodiimide chemistry, two types of homo-bifunctional cross-linking reagents, and electrostatic interactions between the nanoparticles and the EGF. The nanoparticles and their aqueous suspensions were characterized by transmission electron microscopy, zeta-potential measurements and dynamic light scattering. The binding efficiency of the EGF to the nanoparticles was measured by flow cytometry using a specific anti-EGF antibody. The ability of EGF bioconjugates to target the EGF receptors was tested using EGFR over-expressing A431 cells in comparison to EGFR negative HeLa cells. Our results showed that the bioconjugates where the EGF was bonded by carbodiimide chemistry are the most effective for the specific targeting of EGFR-expressing cells in vitro.

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Acknowledgments

The authors are grateful for support of the Ministry of Higher Education, Science and Technology of the Republic of Slovenia within the National Research Program.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department for Materials Synthesis, Jožef Stefan Institute, 1000, Ljubljana, Slovenia

    Slavko Kralj & Darko Makovec

  2. Jožef Stefan International Postgraduate School, 1000, Ljubljana, Slovenia

    Slavko Kralj & Darko Makovec

  3. Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Ljubljana, 1000, Ljubljana, Slovenia

    Matija Rojnik & Janko Kos

  4. Department of Biotechnology, Jožef Stefan Institute, 1000, Ljubljana, Slovenia

    Janko Kos

Authors
  1. Slavko Kralj
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  2. Matija Rojnik
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  3. Janko Kos
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  4. Darko Makovec
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Correspondence to Slavko Kralj.

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Kralj, S., Rojnik, M., Kos, J. et al. Targeting EGFR-overexpressed A431 cells with EGF-labeled silica-coated magnetic nanoparticles. J Nanopart Res 15, 1666 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11051-013-1666-6

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