Magnetic nanoparticles coated with carboxymethylated polysaccharide shells-Interaction with human cells

The interaction of magnetic core shell nanoparticles with living cells depends on the structure of the shell. In this paper we demonstrate a strong difference in the cell-nanoparticle interaction depending on the backbone of carboxymethylated polysaccharides used as shell material. Carboxymethyl cellulose with its β-1→4 linked structure and the carboxymethylated pullulan [α-1→6 linked maltotriose with α-1→4 linkages] show a constant interaction rate with both, tumor cells and leukocytes. In contrast, carboxymethyl dextran with a α-1→6 linked backbone exhibits a rapid interaction kinetic with tumor cells that is reduced with leukocytes as target.