Optimizing the formation of biocompatible gold nanorods for cancer research: Functionalization, stabilization and purification
2011
Abstract 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-PEG mX ( m = 356–10,000; X = −OMe, −NH 2 ). 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-PEG mX was studied, demonstrating the existence of a threshold HS-PEG mX 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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