Category
Bioactive Materials: Intracellular Processes
Year
2012
Institutions
Department of Nanomedicine, The Methodist Hospital Research Institute, Houston, TX 77030, US; Department of Neurobiology and Anatomy, University of Texas Medical School, Houston, TX, US; Department of Nanotechnology for Health, College of Engineering, Swansea University, UK; Department of Pediatrics, M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX 77030, US
Summary
Overcoming the endothelial barrier is an essential step for intravenously injected carrier-mediated therapeutics to reach tumor cells. While micro-vascular endothelial cells are known to be able to internalize particles, the long-term fate of these carriers is still under investigation. In our study we present evidence of the secretion of nano and microparticles from endothelial cells and their subsequent cell-to-cell transfer. We propose that this mechanism could be exploited by drug carriers for crossing the endothelial barrier and redistributing within the tumor microenvironment.
