Article abstract


Nature Nanotechnology 2, 441 - 449 (2006)
Published online: 10 June 2007 | doi:10.1038/nnano.2007.149

Subject Categories: Nanobiotechnology | Nanoparticles

Bacteria-mediated delivery of nanoparticles and cargo into cells

Demir Akin1,2,3, Jennifer Sturgis2,4, Kathy Ragheb2,4, Debby Sherman5, Kristin Burkholder6, J. Paul. Robinson2,3,4, Arun K. Bhunia6, Sulma Mohammed7 & Rashid Bashir1,2,3,8


Nanoparticles and bacteria can be used, independently, to deliver genes and proteins into mammalian cells for monitoring or altering gene expression and protein production. Here, we show the simultaneous use of nanoparticles and bacteria to deliver DNA-based model drug molecules in vivo and in vitro. In our approach, cargo (in this case, a fluorescent or a bioluminescent gene) is loaded onto the nanoparticles, which are carried on the bacteria surface. When incubated with cells, the cargo-carrying bacteria ('microbots') were internalized by the cells, and the genes released from the nanoparticles were expressed in the cells. Mice injected with microbots also successfully expressed the genes as seen by the luminescence in different organs. This new approach may be used to deliver different types of cargo into live animals and a variety of cells in culture without the need for complicated genetic manipulations.

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  1. Birck Nanotechnology Center, Purdue University, 1205 W State Street, West Lafayette, Indiana 47907, USA
  2. Bindley Biosciences Center, Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana 47907, USA
  3. Weldon School of Biomedical Engineering, Purdue University, 206 S Intramural Drive, West Lafayette, Indiana 47907, USA
  4. Department of Basic Medical Sciences, Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana 47907, USA
  5. Department of Biology, Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana 47907, USA
  6. Molecular Food Microbiology Laboratory, Department of Food Science, 745 Agriculture Mall Drive, West Lafayette, Indiana 47907, USA
  7. Department of Comparative Pathobiology, 725 Harrison Street, West Lafayette, Indiana 47907, USA
  8. School of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana 47907, USA

Correspondence to: Demir Akin1,2,3 e-mail: akin@purdue.edu

Correspondence to: Rashid Bashir1,2,3,8 e-mail: bashir@purdue.edu


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