Optimizing the formation of biocompatible gold nanorods for cancer research: Functionalization, stabilization and purification
2011
Bogliotti, Nicolas | Oberleitner, Birgit | Di-Cicco, Aurélie | Schmidt, Frédéric | Florent, Jean-Claude | Semetey, Vincent
We have investigated the most efficient way of preparing biocompatible gold nanorods (GNR) used as tool for cancer imaging and therapy. The surface of cetyltrimethylammonium bromide-stabilized gold nanorods (GNR-CTAB) was functionalized with various thio-polyethylene glycols of the general formula HS-PEGmX (m=356–10,000; X=−OMe, −NH₂). The influence of several parameters such as PEG chain length, reaction conditions and purification method on long-term stability, morphology and optical properties of the produced GNR-S-PEGmX was studied, demonstrating the existence of a threshold HS-PEGmX chain length (with molecular weight m⩾2000) for efficient steric stabilization of GNR. Several purification techniques were compared: dialysis, centrifugation and a rarely used technique in this field, size exclusion chromatography. While a very weak efficiency of dialysis was evidenced, both centrifugation and size exclusion chromatography were found to provide pure GNRs, though the latter method yielded nanoparticles with a significantly higher stability. Finally, the long-term stability of the produced GNRs was investigated in various media: water, PBS buffer and serum.
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