Poster Presenter

Biological Effect and Application of a Novel Fluorescent Gold Nanocluster in Endothelial Cells
Hung-I Yeh, Hsueh-Hsiao Wang
Taiwan

Objectives: We studied the biocompatibility and fluorescence stability of fluorescent gold nanocluster (FGNC) in human aortic endothelial cells (HAEC) and human endothelial progenitor cells (HEPC).

Methods: FGNC (50-1000 nM) was delivered into HAEC using lipid carrier followed by examination of fluorescence signal, functions of viability, migration, and angiogenesis, plus expression profiles. In addition, FGNC-labeled HEPC were injected into mouse ischemic hindlimb.

Results: The fluorescence signal of FGNC in HAEC was strong and sustained for at least 120 hours with minimal decline. 72 hours after FGNC (up to 500 nM) delivery HAEC exhibited minimal change of angiogenic potential, protein level of eNOS, and mRNA levels of angiopoietin 1, connexin 43, interleukin 8, PAI-1, thrombospondin 1, VCAM-1, VEGF, and VEGF receptors. MTT assay demonstrated no reduction of viability until the concentration of FGNC was above 500 nM, at which level the inhibition was partially caused by lipid carrier. In hindlimb ischemia mice FGNC exhibited strong fluorescence signals for at least 21 days. Laser-Doppler perfusion imaging showed minimal effect of FGNC on the angiogenic potential of HEPC.

Conclusions: FGNC showed strong and durable fluorescence signal in HAEC and HEPC. FGNC had minimal effect on the endothelial cellular function and expression profile. These properties plus in vivo data indicated that FGNC is a promising tool for cell tracing of various purposes.