Targeting of a magnetic bionanomaterial to HepG2 human hepatocellular carcinoma cells using a galactose terminated lipid.

Magnetic nanoparticle-vesicle aggregates (MNPVs), a controlled release nanostructure, have been enhanced with the inclusion of a novel galactose terminated lipid for cell targeting. Quartz crystal microgravimetry with dissipation (QCM-D) demonstrated that the galactose headgroup was available to bind Erythrina Crista-galli lectin (ECL) when the lipid was incorporated into a lipid bilayer. Similarly, UV-visible spectrophotometry indicated that ECL recognized the galactose headgroup in vesicles, leading to vesicle adhesion and aggregation. Finally, confocal fluorescence microscopy was used to assess the galactose-mediated interaction of both vesicles and MNPVs with HepG2 human hepatocellular carcinoma cells expressing the asialoglycoprotein (ASGPR) galactose receptor.