Self-assembled squalene-based fluorescent heteronanoparticles

The preparation of fluorescent nanoparticles containing squalenoyl-paclitaxel and a squalene-based fluorescein derivative is presented. The formation of self-assembled heteronanoparticles was confirmed by using the quasielastic light scattering (QELS) technique. The internalization in A549 human lung carcinoma cells was verified by microscopy analysis. Finally, paclitaxel in nanoassemblies maintains its ability to target microtubules.