Exploring High Aspect Ratio Gold Nanotubes as Cytosolic Agents: Structural Engineering and Uptake into Mesothelioma Cells

Controlled synthesis of high aspect ratio gold nanotubes (AuNTs) is developed to generate AuNTs with tailorable wall thickness microstructure and strong near infrared absorption. Uptake and trafficking studies in primary mesothelial cells demonstrate that these AuNTs escape lysosomal confinement and reside in the perinuclear region, where they have potential to function as cytosolic plasmonic nanoagents. AbstractThe generation of effective and safe nanoagents for biological applications requires their physicochemical characteristics to be tunable, and their cellular interactions to be well characterized. Here, the controlled synthesis is developed for preparing high ‐aspect ratio gold nanotubes (AuNTs) with tailorable wall thickness, microstructure, composition, and optical characteristics. The modulation of optical properties generates AuNTs with strong near infrared absorption. Surface modification enhances dispersibility of AuNTs in aqueous media and resul ts in low cytotoxicity. The uptake and trafficking of these AuNTs by primary mesothelioma cells demonstrate their accumulation in a perinuclear distribution where they are confined initially in membrane‐bound vesicles from which they ultimately escape to the cytosol. This represents the first stud y of the cellular interactions of high‐aspect ratio 1D metal nanomaterials and will facilitate the rational design of plasmonic nanoconstructs as cytosolic nanoagents for potential diagnosis and therapeutic applications.
Source: Small - Category: Nanotechnology Authors: Tags: Full Paper Source Type: research