Biocompatible polymeric nanoparticles (NPs) as carriers for therapeutic agents with multifunctional activities have received unprecedented attention for a variety of bio-pharmaceutical applications. We describe the synthesis, the fluorescence properties, the bio-compatible nature and the alpha-1 adrenergic receptor bio-activity of engineered quantum dot-like polynorepinephrine (PNE) NPs. The spherical PNE NPs, which are internalized in smooth muscle cells via a receptor-selective mechanism, activate alpha-1-adrenoceptors in intact mouse aorta and aorta-derived cultured smooth muscle cells, leading to the activation of calcium signaling/contraction and stimulation of mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK), thereby displaying receptor-triggering biological activity, possibly acting both extracellularly and intracellularly. Our data indicate that NPs generated by the polymerization of pharmacologically active compounds like norepinephrine can retain receptor-selective biological activity coupled to inherent fluorescence.
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