Influence of the morphology of Lysozyme-shelled microparticles on the cellular association, uptake, and degradation in human breast adenocarcinoma cells

Abstract

The ultrasound-assisted self-assembly and cross-linking of lysozyme at the water-air and water-perfluorohexane interfaces are shown to produce lysozyme-shelled hollow microbubbles (LSMBs) and microcapsules (LSMC), respectively. The arrangement of lysozyme at the air-liquid or oil-liquid interfaces is accompanied by changes in the bioactivity and conformational state of the protein. The interaction of LSMB and LSMC with human breast adenocarcinoma cells (SKBR3) is studied. LSMB and LSMC are phagocyted by cells within 2 h without exerting a cytotoxic activity. The cellular internalization kinetics of LSMB and LSMC and the effects on cell cycle are evaluated using flow cytometry. Evidence for t..