Delivery of nanoparticles to neurons
A peptide attached to a nanoparticles (such as quantum dots) selectively directs the nanoparticles to neurons in a tissue or organism.
1. A method of delivery of a nanoparticle to a neuron in a tissue, the method comprising:
providing to the tissue a nanoparticle bound to a compound of the formula:
and
subsequently detecting the nanoparticles in neurons in the tissue.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the nanoparticle is also bound to a peptide comprising (a) a nanoparticle association domain, (b) a spacer domain, (c) an uptake domain, and (d) a vesicle escape domain comprising a non-hydrolyzable lipid moiety, wherein the spacer domain is between the nanoparticle association domain and the uptake and vesicle escape domains.
3. The method of claim 2 , wherein the peptide comprises Palm-1.
4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the nanoparticle is a quantum dot.
5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the compound bound to the nanoparticle is effective to induce preferential uptake of the nanoparticle by neuronal cells.
6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the nanoparticle is also bound to a drug.
7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the tissue is in a living organism.
8. A method of labeling a neuron in a tissue, the method comprising:
providing to the tissue providing to the tissue a nanoparticle bound to:
(1) a compound of the formula:
and
(2) peptide comprising
(a) a nanoparticle association domain comprising polyhistidine;
(b) a spacer domain comprising 8, 9, or 10 proline residues;
(c) an uptake domain comprising SEQ ID No: 7; and
(d) a vesicle escape domain comprising a non-hydrolyzable palmitic acid,
wherein the spacer domain is between the nanoparticle association domain and the uptake and vesicle escape domains; and
subsequently detecting the nanoparticles in the neuron.
9. The method of claim 8 , wherein the non-hydrolyzable palmitic acid is palmitoyldiamoniproprionyl.
10. The method of claim 8 , wherein the spacer domain comprises 9 proline residues.
11. The method of claim 8 , wherein the peptide comprises SEQ ID No: 3 or SEQ ID No: 4.
12. The method of claim 8 , wherein the nanoparticle is also bound to a drug.
13. The method of claim 8 , wherein the tissue is in a living organism.