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  • 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

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Methanol, NMR reference standard
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Methanol, suitable for HPLC
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Carbon, mesoporous
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Acetic acid, SAJ first grade, ≥99.0%
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Hydrochloric acid, JIS special grade, 35.0-37.0%
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Hydrochloric acid solution, 0.2 M
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Sodium hydroxide solution, 6 M
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Hydrochloric acid, SAJ first grade, 35.0-37.0%
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Hydrochloric acid solution, 0.02 M
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Acetic acid, ≥99.7%
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Sodium hydroxide solution, 1 M
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Sodium hydroxide solution, 0.01 M
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Formaldehyde solution, 10%
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Acetic acid, 99.5-100.0%
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Hydrochloric acid solution, 0.01 M
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Acetic acid, JIS special grade, ≥99.7%
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Hydrochloric acid solution, 6 M
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Methanol, SAJ first grade, ≥99.5%
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Sodium hydroxide, JIS special grade, ≥96.0%
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Hydrogen chloride – ethanol solution, 0.1 M in ethanol
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Methanol, JIS 300, ≥99.8%, for residue analysis
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Hydrochloric acid solution, 12 M
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Acetic acid solution, 1 M, 1 N
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Methanol, JIS special grade, ≥99.8%
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Acetic acid, ≥99.7%
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Hydrochloric acid solution, 0.05 M
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Formaldehyde solution, JIS special grade, 36.0-38.0%, contains methanol as stabilizer
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Ninhydrin, SAJ special grade, ≥98.0%
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Hydrochloric acid solution, 2 M
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Acetic acid, ≥99.7%, suitable for amino acid analysis