TY - JOUR A1 - Svitkova, Barbora A1 - Zavisova, Vlasta A1 - Nemethova, Veronika A1 - Koneracka, Martina A1 - Kretova, Miroslava A1 - Razga, Filip A1 - Ursinyova, Monika A1 - Gabelova, Alena T1 - Differences in surface chemistry of iron oxide nanoparticles result in different routes of internalization JF - Beilstein Journal of Nanotechnology PY - 2021/// VL - 12 SP - 270 EP - 281 SN - 2190-4286 DO - 10.3762/bjnano.12.22 PB - Beilstein-Institut JA - Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. UR - https://doi.org/10.3762/bjnano.12.22 KW - bovine serum albumin KW - cellular uptake KW - magnetic iron oxide nanoparticles KW - polyethylene glycol KW - surface coating N2 - The efficient entry of nanotechnology-based pharmaceuticals into target cells is highly desired to reach high therapeutic efficiency while minimizing the side effects. Despite intensive research, the impact of the surface coating on the mechanism of nanoparticle uptake is not sufficiently understood yet. Herein, we present a mechanistic study of cellular internalization pathways of two magnetic iron oxide nanoparticles (MNPs) differing in surface chemistry into A549 cells. The MNP uptake was investigated in the presence of different inhibitors of endocytosis and monitored by spectroscopic and imaging techniques. The results revealed that the route of MNP entry into cells strongly depends on the surface chemistry of the MNPs. While serum bovine albumin-coated MNPs entered the cells via clathrin-mediated endocytosis (CME), caveolin-mediated endocytosis (CavME) or lipid rafts were preferentially involved in the internalization of polyethylene glycol-coated MNPs. Our data indicate that surface engineering can contribute to an enhanced delivery efficiency of nanoparticles. ER -