Fluorescence-Based and Fluorescent Label-Free Characterization of Polymer Nanoparticle Decorated T Cells

Cells are attractive carriers for the transport and delivery of nanoparticulate cargo. The use of cell-based carriers allows one to enhance control over the biodistribution of drug-loaded polymers and polymer nanoparticles. One key element in the development of cell-based delivery systems is the loading of the cell-based carrier with the nanoparticle cargo, which can be achieved either by internalization of the payload or by immobilization on the cell surface. The surface modification of cells with nanopartides or the internalization of nanopartides by cells is usually monitored with fluorescence-based techniques, such as flow cytometry and confocal microscopy. In spite of the widespread use of these techniques, the use of fluorescent labels also poses some risks and has several drawbacks. Fluorescent dyes may bleach, or leach from, the nanopartides or alter the physicochemical properties of nanopartides and their interactions with and uptake by cells. Using poly(D,L-lactic acid) nanoparticles that are loaded with Coumarin 6, BODIPY 493/503, or DiO dyes as a model system, this paper demonstrates that the use of physically entrapped fluorescent labels can lead to false negative or erroneous results. The use of nanopartides that contain covalently tethered fluorescent dyes instead was found to provide a robust approach to monitor cell surface conjugation reactions and to quantitatively analyze nanopartide-decorated cells. Finally, it is shown that optical diffraction tomography is an attractive, alternative technique for the characterization of nanopartide-decorated cells, which obviates the need for fluorescent labels.