Formation of lipid and polymer based gold nanohybrids using a nanoreactor approach

Abstract

Nanocarriers encapsulating gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) hold tremendous promise for numerous biomedical applications. So far only a few fabrication strategies have been investigated and efficient processes for the manufacturing of gold nanohybrids (AuNHybs) are still missing. We encapsulated a tetrachloroaurate/citrate mixture within nanocarriers and initiated the AuNP formation after self-assembly of the nanomaterial by a temperature shift. This nanoreactor approach was successfully combined with the film-rehydration, nanoprecipitation, or microfluidics method. Different nanomaterials were validated including phospholipids and copolymers and the process was optimized towards encapsulation efficiency and physico-chemical homogeneity of AuNHybs. Our nanoreactor technology is versatile, efficient, and highly reproducible. Dynamic light scattering and electron microscopy techniques confirmed that generated lipid and polymer based AuNHybs were of uniform size below 130 nm and contained a single AuNP. The AuNHyb solutions had a deep-red color and exhibited the specific surface plasmon absorption of AuNPs. The unique optical properties of AuNHybs were used to visualize cellular uptake of nanocarriers in vitro demonstrating the promising applicability of AuNHybs as bioimaging tool.

Functionalized Solid-Sphere PEG-b-PCL Nanoparticles to Target Brain Capillary Endothelial CellsIn Vitro

“…In the present study, single colloidal gold particles were detected at all time-points, indicating that gold particles were taken up while incorporated into [PP-SNP-Au]- [mAb]. Free colloidal gold particles prepared without PEG-b-PCL agglomerated very fast and were found as clusters of particles when analysed by TEM [26]. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study using gold-loaded targeted polymeric SNPs to visualize their uptake in a cellbased model.…”

“…Furthermore, uptake was specific and mediated by the 83-14 mAb since competition for the target receptor (HIR) with free mAb leads to a decrease of intracellular fluorescence (Figures 4 SNPs were visualized by a preembedding staining technique. To this end, a protocol to prepare gold-nanohybrids ([PP-SNP-Au]) was developed by our group [26]. This opens attractive possibilities to monitor intracellular trafficking of SNPs.…”

Optimized Photoactivatable Lipid Nanoparticles Enable Red Light Triggered Drug Release

“…Morphological liposome characteristics and Dox loading were investigated by Cryo-TEM as described previously. [39][40][41] In brief, liposome formulations were deposited onto glow-discharged copper grids and vitrified using a FEI Mark IV Vitrobot (FEI, Hillsboro, OR). Cryo-TEM imaging was performed using a 200 kV Glacios microscope equipped with a Falcon III camera at the UBC High Resolution Macromolecular Cryo-Electron Microscopy facility (Vancouver, BC).…”

Improvement of DNA Vector Delivery of DOTAP Lipoplexes by Short-Chain Aminolipids

“…Directly after extrusion, the size, polydispersity index (PDI), and ζ-potential of the aminolipid nanoparticles were measured using a Delsa Nano C Particle Analyzer at RT, as described previously. , Particle size and PDI were determined using CONTIN data conversion after measurement of the extruded nanoparticle preparation (cDOTAP = 8 mM) using a 658 nm laser. Scattered light was detected at an angle of 165°.…”