Work performed and main results:
Two different smart nanoplatforms were designed aimed at different purposes as follows.
(1) Nanoplatform as nanocarrier for drug delivery in cells (cf. Figure 1A). A plasmonic core-shell nanocarrier comprising gold nanostars (AuNSs) coated with zeolitic imidazolate framework 8 (ZIF-8) was synthesized and loaded with a large amount of a cargo molecule (bisbenzimide as model cargo; loading capacity of ∼2.9×105 molecules per nanocarrier particle). The thermoresponsive behaviour under photostimulation (irradiation with near infrared light) of the developed smart nanocarrier (cargo-loaded AuNS@ZIF8) was successfully used for achieving the thermoplasmonic-driven release of the encapsulated active molecules inside living cells in a spatiotemporal controlled fashion.
(2) Nanoplatform as nanoreactor for intracellular catalysis (cf. Figure 1B). A catalytic core-shell nanocarrier comprising palladium nanocubes (Pd) coated with zeolitic imidazolate framework 8 (ZIF-8) was synthesized and internalized in cells for catalyzing specific transformations (uncaging reactions) of substrates (non-fluorescent molecules) to active fluorescent products. The developed nanoreactor (Pd@ZIF8 NR) could efficiently catalyze Pd-promoted uncaging reactions intracellularly in a very efficient manner and remaining highly active over time, demonstrating its superior performance in comparison with other reported Pd-based catalysts. This was because the MOF shell is able to protect the Pd core from passivation and deactivation, which is the main critical issue for this kind of catalysis inside cells. Even more important was to demonstrate that these NRs were readily incorporated into 3D tumor spheroids to produce a novel 3D catalytic spheroid model, which allowed for transforming recurrent batches of reactants.
To conclude, the work performed in this project has demonstrated the huge potential of the developed smart nanoplatforms for applications in diverse areas within the biomedical field. It is envisaged that this work will open the path to developing new bioapplications and designing similar nanoplatforms by adding different functionalities, with the ultimate goal of addressing critical issues of some nanomaterials that hampers nowadays their actual translation into clinical practice.
Explotation and dissemination of results:
Conferences and seminars
1. 256th American-Chemical-Society (ACS) conference. Oral Communication “Photothermal-driven drug-delivery nanoplatform based on plasmonic zeolitic imidazolate frameworks”. 2018, Boston, USA
2. Seminar at Center for Research in Biological Chemistry and Molecular Materials (CiQUS). Oral Communication “Light-triggered release of encapsulated cargo from core-shell gold nanostar/ZIF-8 nanoparticles inside living cells”. 2018, Santiago de Compostela, Spain
3. VII Meeting on Nanochemistry and Nanotechnology (VII NANOUCO). Oral Communication “Aqueous stable gold nanostar/ZIF-8 nanocomposites for light triggered release of active cargo inside living cells”. 2019, Córdoba, Spain
4. Biennial Meeting of the Spanish Royal Society of Chemistry (RSEQ)
Authors: C. Carrillo-Carrión, P. del Pino
Oral Communication “Aqueous stable gold nanostar/ZIF-8 nanocomposites for light triggered release of active cargo inside living cells”. 2019, Donostia-San Sebastian, Spain
5. ICONAN 2019 - International Conference On Nanomedicine And Nanobiotechnology (ICONAN 2019). Oral Communication “Aqueous Stable Gold Nanostar/ZIF-8 Nanocomposites for Light Triggered Release of Active Cargo Inside Living Cells”. 2019, Munich, Germany
Publications (to date)
1. Carrillo-Carrion C., et al. Aqueous Stable Gold Nanostar/ZIF‐8 Nanocompositesfor Light‐Triggered Release of Active Cargo Inside Living Cells. Angewandte Chemie International Edition, 2019, 58(21), 7078.
2. Carrillo-Carrion C.* Nanoscale metal-organic frameworks as key players in the context of drug delivery: evolution towards theranostic platforms. Analytical and Bioanalytical Chemistry, 2019, doi: 10.1007/s00216-019-02217-y.
3. Carrillo-Carrion C., et al. Core-Shell Pd/ZIF-8 as Diffusion-Controlled Nanoreactors for Biorthogonal Uncaging Chemistry inside Living Cells. Nature Catalysis, 2019, under revision.
Outreach activities
1. Participation as collaborator in the 2nd edition of the “Ciencia Singular” Open Doors Day at CiQUS (November 2018).
2. Participation as a lecturer in the 6th edition of “Research in Chemistry: Creative Science for a Better World” programme at CiQUS (November 2018).
3. Participation as lecturer in an informative meeting entitled “Acciones Marie Sklodowska Curie 2019” (February 2019).
4. Participation as organizer in of the "Pint of Science Festival" in Santiago de Compostela (May 2019).
5. Participation as speaker in the 1st edition of the round table "Women in Science" at CiQUS (September 2019).
6. Flyers with the main achievements of the MSCA project.
