Intracellular release of fluorescein anion from layered double hydroxide nanoparticles indicating endosomal escape

In recent years, layered double hydroxide (LDH) has been attempted to be applied to a molecular container due to their anion exchange ability, low cytotoxicity and good biocompatibility. In this paper, we investigated the intracellular behaviour of LDH particles in mammalian cells after internalization. Nanoparticles of fluorescein (Fluo) intercalated LDH, Fluo/LDH, were prepared by the coprecipitation followed by subsequent hydrothermal treatment. As-prepared Fluo/LDH particles have the LDH structure and morphology of hexagonal sheet of 100 nm on the average. In addition, Fluo/LDH also exhibited high green fluorescence and low cytotoxicity. By a confocal laser scanning microscopy, the dim green fluorescence was observed throughout cells, including the nucleus. This result indicated that Fluo/LDH released guest anion (Fluo) from LDH structure inside cells. Furthermore, because the fluorescence was observed throughout the cell, Fluo was not retained within endosome structure, i.e., Fluo/LDH was dissolved to release Fluo from endosome.