Tracking cell proliferation using a nanotechnology based approach

Abstract

Aim: To develop an efficient nanotechnology fluorescence based method to track cell proliferation to avoid the limitations of current cell-labelling dyes. Material & methods: Synthesis, PEGylation, bifunctionalization and labelling with a fluorophore (Cy5) of 200 nm polystyrene nanoparticles (NPs) were performed. These NPs were characterised and assessed for in vitro long-term monitoring of cell proliferation. Results: The optimisation and validation of this method to track long term cell proliferation assays have been achieved with high reproducibility, without cell cycle disruption. This method has been successfully applied in several adherent and suspension cells including hard-to-transfect cells and isolated human primary lymphocytes. Conclusion: A novel approach to track efficiently cellular proliferation by flow cytometry using fluorescence labelled nanoparticles has been successfully developed.