Surface Modification with Chondroitin Sulfate Targets Nanoparticles to the Neuronal Cell Membrane in the Substantia Nigra

Localizing nanoparticles on or near cell membranes in vivo remains a big challenge. We present a cell membrane targeting complex based on chondroitin sulfate (CS)-conjugated superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles (CS-SPIONs). After SPIONs were injected into the substantia nigra of rats, the subcellular distributions of SPIONs with and without CS modification have been evaluated by transmission electron microscopy (TEM) analysis. CS-SPIONs exhibited low toxicity and low endocytosis and were highly distributed in the extracellular spaces nearing neuronal cell bodies and synapses. This can be attributed to the nature of CS, one of the main components of perineuronal nets with the tendency to surround neuronal cell bodies, dendrites, and synapses. It is expected that CS-SPIONs have a great potential for therapies requiring targeting of or approach to cell membranes.