Cellular Uptake of Gold Nanorods in Breast Cancer Cell Lines.

Nanosized materials have been proposed for a wide range of biomedical applications, given their unique characteristics. However, how these nanomaterials interact with cells and tissues, as well as how they bio-distribute in organisms, is still under investigation. Differences such as the nanoparticle size, shape, and surface chemistry affect the basic mechanisms of cellular uptake and responses, which, in turn, affects the nanoparticles' applicability for biomedical applications. Thus, it is vital to determine how a specific nanoparticle interacts with cells of interest before extensive in vivo applications are performed. Here, we delineate the uptake mechanism and localization of gold nanorods in SKBR-3 and MCF-7 breast cancer cell lines. Our results show both differences and similarities in the nanorod-cell interactions of the two cell lines. We accurately quantified the cellular uptake of gold nanorods in SKBR-3 and MCF-7 using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). We found that both cell types use macropinocytosis to internalize bare nanorods that aggregate and associate with the cell membrane. In addition, we were able to qualitatively track and show intracellular nanoparticle localization using transmission electron microscopy. The results of this study will be invaluable for the successful development of novel and "smart" nanodrugs based on gold nano-structural delivery vehicles, which heavily depend on their complex interactions with single cells.

Community-based priorities for improving nutrition and physical activity in childhood.

Overweight among America's youth has prompted a large response from foundations, government, and private organizations to support programmatic interventions. The architecture for many of these programs was derived from "experts," whereas the perspective of families, and communities--those most affected and most instrumental in altering behavior--is rarely the driving force. Shaping America's Youth (SAY) was established to assess programs that target nutrition and physical activity and to promote the necessary family and community input. In a 2004 report, SAY documented how community efforts are motivated, funded, structured, and evaluated. It identified discordance between that effort and the opinions of experts. To ensure that the voices of families and communities are integrated into such local and national policies and programs, SAY initiated a unique series of 5-day-long town meetings, input from which was independently statistically analyzed. Across a range of demographics, the results indicated that participants perceive the barriers and solutions similarly. There was broad agreement that the family has primary responsibility, starting with a need to focus on improved quality and duration of family time directed at nutrition and activity. Concurrently they identified needed actions from external sources, including clear and consistent nutrition information; ready access to healthy foods; and a built environment that promotes physical activity. Rather than one-dimensional or governmental solutions, they expressed a need for community-based partnerships integrating health care, education, environment, government, and business. Although this citizen-engagement process did not identify specific actions, it defined basic steps that communities must integrate into future approaches.