Gold Nanoparticles for Nucleic Acid Delivery

Abstract

Gold nanoparticles provide an attractive and applicable scaffold for delivery of nucleic acids. In this review, we focus on the use of covalent and noncovalent gold nanoparticle conjugates for applications in gene delivery and RNA-interference technologies. We also discuss challenges in nucleic acid delivery, including endosomal entrapment/escape and active delivery/presentation of nucleic acids in the cell.

Fluorinated and Charged Hydrogenated Alkanethiolates Grafted on Gold: Expanding the Diversity of Mixed-Monolayer Nanoparticles for Biological Applications

“…These thiols were used in combination with 1H,1H,2H,2H-perfluoro-1-decanethiol (HF8) or 1H,1H,2H,2H-perfluoro-1-octanethiol (HF6) as the fluorinated components. The uptake by HeLa cells and the cytotoxicity of these charged H-/F-mixed monolayer AuNPs were compared to those of charge neutral NPs obtained by using the thiols N-1-{2-[2-(2-methoxyethoxy)ethoxy]ethyl}-8-sulfanyloctanamide (HC8TEG) and 2,2,3,3,4,4,5,5,6,6,7,7,8,8,9,9-hexadecafluoro-10-(methoxy-PEG550)decan-1-thiol (HF8PEG), Figure 1B. The synthesis of the thiols HMDDS, HMDA, and HTMDA is reported in the Supporting Information (SI).…”

“…These NPs vesicles could be loaded with the fluorescent dye rhodamine or with the anticancer drug doxorubicin; this payload could then be released by laser irradiation at 532 nm, 3 presenting potential as drug delivery systems based on AuNPs. 4,5 Soft NPs made of peptide nucleic acid (PNA) conjugated to perfluoroundecanoyl chains display a 3-fold higher cellular uptake by HeLa cells with respect to undecanoyl PNA. 6 Soft NPs obtained by complexation of polyampholites with perfluorododecanoic acid were found to hinder the formation of amyloid fibrils, while hydrogenated analogues were not effective.…”

Influence of the glycocalyx and plasma membrane composition on amphiphilic gold nanoparticle association with erythrocytes

“…31,32 Gold nanoparticles with organic ligand shells are being explored as candidate drug delivery agents that can carry drugs sequestered within their organic layer, bound reversibly to the gold core, or anchored to the ligand shell. [33][34][35][36] Motivated by the potential for such inorganic/organic hybrid nanomaterials to carry therapeutics, here we characterized water-soluble amphiphilic nanoparticles that partition into erythrocyte membranes without the need for membrane perturbation or manipulation, which we hypothesize could be loaded with drugs for direct association with erythrocytes. Using a one-step reaction, we synthesized small ∼2-4 nm core size gold nanoparticles (amph-AuNPs) with an amphiphilic ligand shell comprised of two alkanethiols.…”

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“…This study was showed that gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) are vital delivery medium to penetrate the human skin in an in vitro diffusion cell system [13]. Surface fabrication of gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) as nano-delivery vehicles was done with their grafting with fabrication of active functional groups e.g., polyethylene glycol and zwitterions to enhance their plasma protein adsorption, improving the pharmacokinetics and evading immune observations [14]. Oligonucleotide and small interfering RNA-modified gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) conjugates were reported more effective and safe intracellular gene regulation agents to activate immune-related genetic pathways [15].…”