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Super-resolution fluorescence microscopy and cryogenic soft X-ray tomography enable intracellular localization of stable nanoparticles

Ribeiro, Iris R.S. ; Harkiolaki, Maria ; S. Plivelic, Tomás LU and Barbosa, Leandro R.S. (2025) In Nano Today 61.
Abstract

Cubosomes have emerged as a powerful platform for cancer treatment due to their biocompatibility and ability to encapsulate hydrophilic/lipophilic drugs, providing controlled drug release. While investigating these nanoparticles' stability and intracellular localization is essential for advancing them as clinically efficient nanomedicine, such studies are still lacking, and those available do not provide a reliable and comprehensive understanding. Here, we analyze cubosomes stability in complex media and conduct a pioneering study on visualizing their intracellular localization using a combination of correlative high-resolution three-dimensional fluorescence microscopy and soft X-ray tomography (synchrotron-based technique) at cryogenic... (More)

Cubosomes have emerged as a powerful platform for cancer treatment due to their biocompatibility and ability to encapsulate hydrophilic/lipophilic drugs, providing controlled drug release. While investigating these nanoparticles' stability and intracellular localization is essential for advancing them as clinically efficient nanomedicine, such studies are still lacking, and those available do not provide a reliable and comprehensive understanding. Here, we analyze cubosomes stability in complex media and conduct a pioneering study on visualizing their intracellular localization using a combination of correlative high-resolution three-dimensional fluorescence microscopy and soft X-ray tomography (synchrotron-based technique) at cryogenic temperatures, leveraging natural cellular contrast. Our studies revealed that cubosomes were stable in complex media, confirming their localization within lysosomes. In addition to being crucial for ensuring the advancement of cubosomes for therapeutic purposes, this study paves the way for defining the intracellular localization of other nanoparticles in greater detail, utilizing synchrotron-based 3D imaging techniques. Finally, we confirm the efficacy of doxorubicin-incorporated cubosomes against breast cancer cells.

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author
; ; and
organization
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
keywords
Breast cancer cells, Colloidal stability, Cryo-SIM, Cryo-SXT, Cubosomes, Intracellular, Location, Lysosomes, Soft nanoparticles
in
Nano Today
volume
61
article number
102599
publisher
Elsevier
external identifiers
  • scopus:85212834005
ISSN
1748-0132
DOI
10.1016/j.nantod.2024.102599
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
08a9e392-1c93-44d3-aece-8977e6413cea
date added to LUP
2025-02-28 13:47:59
date last changed
2025-04-04 15:11:54
@article{08a9e392-1c93-44d3-aece-8977e6413cea,
  abstract     = {{<p>Cubosomes have emerged as a powerful platform for cancer treatment due to their biocompatibility and ability to encapsulate hydrophilic/lipophilic drugs, providing controlled drug release. While investigating these nanoparticles' stability and intracellular localization is essential for advancing them as clinically efficient nanomedicine, such studies are still lacking, and those available do not provide a reliable and comprehensive understanding. Here, we analyze cubosomes stability in complex media and conduct a pioneering study on visualizing their intracellular localization using a combination of correlative high-resolution three-dimensional fluorescence microscopy and soft X-ray tomography (synchrotron-based technique) at cryogenic temperatures, leveraging natural cellular contrast. Our studies revealed that cubosomes were stable in complex media, confirming their localization within lysosomes. In addition to being crucial for ensuring the advancement of cubosomes for therapeutic purposes, this study paves the way for defining the intracellular localization of other nanoparticles in greater detail, utilizing synchrotron-based 3D imaging techniques. Finally, we confirm the efficacy of doxorubicin-incorporated cubosomes against breast cancer cells.</p>}},
  author       = {{Ribeiro, Iris R.S. and Harkiolaki, Maria and S. Plivelic, Tomás and Barbosa, Leandro R.S.}},
  issn         = {{1748-0132}},
  keywords     = {{Breast cancer cells; Colloidal stability; Cryo-SIM; Cryo-SXT; Cubosomes; Intracellular; Location; Lysosomes; Soft nanoparticles}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  publisher    = {{Elsevier}},
  series       = {{Nano Today}},
  title        = {{Super-resolution fluorescence microscopy and cryogenic soft X-ray tomography enable intracellular localization of stable nanoparticles}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.nantod.2024.102599}},
  doi          = {{10.1016/j.nantod.2024.102599}},
  volume       = {{61}},
  year         = {{2025}},
}