Functionalization of mesoporous silica nanoparticles with a cell-penetrating peptide to target mammalian sperm in vitro.

Functionalization of mesoporous silica nanoparticles with a cell-penetrating peptide to target mammalian sperm in vitro.

Nanomedicine (London, England) (2015-05-27)

Natalia Barkalina, Celine Jones, Helen Townley, Kevin Coward

ABSTRACT

This study aimed to investigate the effects of actively targeting mesoporous silica nanoparticles (MSNPs) toward mammalian sperm with a cell-penetrating peptide (C105Y), with subsequent analysis of binding rates and nano-safety profiles. Boar sperm were exposed in vitro to C105Y-functionalized MSNPs or free C105Y, in a series of increasing doses for up to 2 h, followed by the evaluation of sperm motility, kinematic parameters, acrosome morphology, MSNP-sperm binding and cell fluorescence levels. C105Y-functionalized MSNPs preserved their biocompatibility with sperm, and exhibited an approximately fourfold increase in affinity toward gametes, compared with unmodified MSNPs, during the early stages of incubation. Our findings support the application of MSNPs and active targeting to sperm as valuable tools for reproductive biology.

MATERIALS

Product Number

Brand

Product Description

07-2080

Sigma-Aldrich

1,2-Dichloroethane, JIS special grade, ≥99.5%

07-2090

Sigma-Aldrich

1,2-Dichloroethane, SAJ first grade, ≥99.0%

706493

Sigma-Aldrich

(3-Aminopropyl)triethoxysilane, packaged for use in deposition systems, ≥98%

719803

Sigma-Aldrich

Carbon nanofibers, graphitized, platelets(conical), >98% carbon basis, D × L 100 nm × 20-200 μm

719811

Sigma-Aldrich

Carbon nanofibers, pyrolitically stripped, platelets(conical), >98% carbon basis, D × L 100 nm × 20-200 μm

609765

Sigma-Aldrich

Sodium hydroxide-¹⁶O solution, 20 wt. % in H₂¹⁶O, 99.9 atom % ¹⁶O

721956

Sigma-Aldrich

Methanol solution, suitable for NMR (reference standard), 4% in methanol-d₄ (99.8 atom % D), NMR tube size 3 mm × 8 in.

741442

Sigma-Aldrich

(3-Aminopropyl)triethoxysilane, ≥98.0%

490210

Sigma-Aldrich

Methane-¹²C, ¹³C-depleted, 99.9 atom % ¹²C

440140

Sigma-Aldrich

(3-Aminopropyl)triethoxysilane, 99%

52365

Sigma-Aldrich

Hexadecyltrimethylammonium bromide, BioUltra, Molecular Biology, ≥99.0% (AT)

295426

Sigma-Aldrich

Hydrogen chloride, ReagentPlus^®, ≥99%

284505

Sigma-Aldrich

1,2-Dichloroethane, anhydrous, 99.8%

A8380

Sigma-Aldrich

5α-Androstan-17β-ol-3-one, ≥97.5%

H6269

Sigma-Aldrich

Hexadecyltrimethylammonium bromide, Molecular Biology, ≥99%

H9151

Sigma-Aldrich

Hexadecyltrimethylammonium bromide, BioXtra, ≥99%

A3648

Sigma-Aldrich

(3-Aminopropyl)triethoxysilane, ≥98%

H5882

Sigma-Aldrich

Hexadecyltrimethylammonium bromide, ≥98%

GF45345562

Carbon - Vitreous, rod, 200mm, diameter 5.0mm, glassy carbon

GF61342220

Carbon - Vitreous, foam, 150x150mm, 0.05g.cmué, porosity 96.5%, 24 pores/cm

GF65427587

Carbon - Vitreous, rod, 100mm, diameter 3.0mm, glassy carbon

GF22691426

Carbon - Vitreous, foil, 10x10mm, thickness 1.0mm, glassy carbon

GF39873369

Carbon - Vitreous, foam, 150x150mm, thickness 3.2mm, bulk density 0.05g/cm³, porosity 96.5%

GF68195403

Carbon - Vitreous, rod, 100mm, diameter 7.0mm, glassy carbon

GF91785134

Carbon - Vitreous, rod, 200mm, diameter 10mm, glassy carbon

GF07378476

Carbon - Vitreous, foam, 150x150mm, thickness 2.5mm, bulk density 0.05g/cm³, porosity 96.5%

GF04031132

Carbon - Vitreous, foam, 300x300mm, thickness 20mm, bulk density 0.05g/cm³, porosity 96.5%

GF05962765

Carbon - Vitreous, rod, 100mm, diameter 5.0mm, glassy carbon

GF06230922

Carbon - Vitreous, foam, 300x300mm, thickness 30mm, bulk density 0.05g/cm³, porosity 96.5%

GF96762864

Carbon - Vitreous, foil, 50x50mm, thickness 1.0mm, glassy carbon