Delivery of Gold Nanoparticles Inside Carbon Nanotubes by Oligonucleotides

Abstract

Delivery of gold nanoparticles with 2 nm or so in diameter inside multiwall carbon nanotubes (MCNTs) by oligonucleotides was performed under the condition of 400 k and 3 bar for 20 min. The Au-oligo-CNT complexes were first purified via 1% agarose gel electrophoresis and then analyzed via high resolution transmission electron microscopy (HR-TEM) and energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX). The results showed that the excess of oligonucleotides, Au nanopartilces and the Au-oligo hybrids attached to the outside walls of CNTs could be removed away by agarose gel electrophoresis. HR-TEM and EDX results demonstrated that 2% or so Au-oligo hybrids were successfully delivered inside MCNTs. In contrast, few Au nanopartilces were observed to locate inside CNTs under identical experimental conditions. This is the very first confirmation that oligonucleotides can be used to deliver Au nanoparticles inside MCNTs. The van der Waals attraction between CNT and Au-oligo hybrids is likely the main driving force for this phenomenon. This phenomenon has potential applications in future nanotechnology such as molecular electronics, biochemical sensors, nano-devices, gene storage and delivery systems.

Dendrimer Modified SWCNTs for High Efficient Delivery and Intracellular Imaging of Survivin SiRNA

“…For example, carbon nanotubes have been used as delivery system for gene therapy [4], also used for biosensor for ultrasensitive detection of biomarkers [5], more important, carbon nanotubes can be used for near infrared imaging and photothermal therapy [6]. In our previous work, we also confirmed that carbon nanotubes can be filled with DNA or peptide molecules [7,8], can take antisense oligonucleotides into HL-60 cells and inhibited tumor cell growth [9], highly suggesting that carbon nanotubes may be good delivery system and have highly potential in gene or drug storage and delivery system in molecular therapy of diseases.…”

Fluoroimmunoassay for Antigen Based on Fluorescence Resonance Energy Transfer Between Quantum Dots and Gold Nanoparticles

“…In addition, gold nanoparticles (GNPs) have been of great interest because of their high extinction coefficient and a broad absorption spectrum in a visible light that is overlapped with the emission wavelength of usual energy donors [18][19][20][21]. As a photoluminescence (PL) quencher of organic dyes, GNPs were employed to detect single-mismatched nucleotides based on a molecular beacon technique and other protein interactions [17].…”

Fluoroimmunoassay for Antigen Based on Fluorescence Resonance Energy Transfer Between Quantum Dots and Gold Nanoparticles

“…In the past few years, QDs have been favorably adopted in the FRET-based studies due to their distinct optical characteristics [17]. In addition, gold nanoparticles (GNPs) have been of great interest because of their high extinction coefficient and a broad absorption spectrum in a visible light that is overlapped with the emission wavelength of usual energy donors [18][19][20][21]. As a photoluminescence (PL) quencher of organic dyes, GNPs were employed to detect single-mismatched nucleotides based on a molecular beacon technique and other protein interactions [17].…”