Acrylate-facilitated cellular uptake of gold nanoparticles.

Uptake of PEGylated gold nanoparticles by HeLa cells in the presence of acrylate is described. Nanoparticles that are usually not taken up readily cross the plasma membrane into the cytosol in the presence of acrylate. In addition, a method is described that allows the introduction of large amounts of pre-aggregated gold nanoparticles into the cells without compromising the cell viability