A Golden Bullet? Selective Targeting of Toxoplasma gondii Tachyzoites Using Antibody-Functionalized Gold Nanorods

Abstract

Conjugates of gold nanoparticles and antibodies have useful functionalities. Here, we show how they can be used to selectively target and destroy parasitic protozoans. Gold nanorods were conjugated with an anti-Toxoplasma gondii antibody and used to target the extracellular tachyzoite which is an infectious form of an obligate parasite Toxoplasma gondii. Subsequent laser irradiation was used to kill the targeted protozoans. This concept provides a new paradigm for the treatment of parasitic protozoans.

Gold nanoparticles enhance methylene blue– induced photodynamic therapy: a novel therapeutic approach to inhibit Candida albicans biofilm

“…25 GNP has been used as a carrier of antitumor drugs, antibodies, antibiotics, and other drugs for selective killing of diseased cells and microbes. [26][27][28] GNP per se did not have any antimicrobial activity, but when coupled with antibiotics showed significant antimicrobial effect. 28,29 Cationic thiazine dyes such as TBO and MB showed strong interaction with GNP by increased ultraviolet (UV)-visible absorption.…”

Silver Nanoparticles as Real Topical Bullets for Wound Healing

“…(8) Silver nanoparticles can be easily incorporated in cotton fabric and dressings and have significantly decreased wound-healing time by an average of 3.35 days and increased bacterial clearance from infected wounds, with no adverse effects observed for the dressing. [48][49][50][51][52][53][54][55] (9) Anti-inflammatory properties of silver nanoparticles also promote wound healing by reducing cytokine release, 56 decreasing lymphocyte and mast cell infiltration. 57 …”

“…The free radicals may be derived from the surface of silver nanoparticles and be responsible for the antimicrobial activity. 53 In proteomic and biochemical studies, nano molar concentrations of silver nanoparticles have killed Escherichia coli cells within minutes, possibly because of immediate dissipation of the proton motive force. 60 This action is similar to that found for antimicrobial activities of Ag1 ions.…”

Translational Research on Breast Cancer: miRNA, siRNA and Immunoconjugates in Conjugation with Nanotechnology for Clinical Studies

“…For example, oligonucleotidefunctionalized nanoparticles have been introduced as an effective bioassay tool, referred to as a bio-barcode assay, which allows for sensing small biomolecules such as -amyloid related to Alzheimer's disease and small DNA fragments associated with various diseases such as human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) (Keating, 2005;Stoeva et al, 2006). Furthermore, NPs linked to antibodies have demonstrated selective binding of rare stem cells, immune cells and cancer cells presenting specific receptors on the cell surface (Pissuwan et al, 2007). Several study reports have been showed that antibodies linked to NP can detect or target cells with high specificity (Yang et al, 2007).…”