COLL 106 |
| Monolayer-protected gold nanoparticles provide effective vectors for the delivery of drugs and biomolecules. The ability to attach targeting functionality presents a means of delivering these carriers to target organs and tissues. Additionally, the capability of tuning surface properties provides systems that are rapidly internalized by cells, with intracellular targeting possible through the use of appropriate functionality. Gold nanoparticles provide a tunable method for payload release. Glutathione (GSH) is present in low micromolar concentrations extracellularly. Intracellular GSH concentrations, however, range from 1-10 millimolar. This dramatic increase in GSH concentration within the cell provides a novel means for release: GSH can displace thiol functionality from the particle surface. This displacement process can be used directly to release drugs and prodrugs. Moreover, the addition of anionic GSH can be used to change the surface potential of cationic particles, providing an effective means for release of electrostatically-bound DNA and proteins. |
|
Advances in Nanomedicine
2:00 PM-5:30 PM, Sunday, 10 September 2006 Sir Francis Drake -- Monterey/Cypress Rooms, Oral
Division of Colloid & Surface Chemistry |