Targeted Doxorubicin-Loaded Dendronized Gold Nanoparticles

Abstract

Dendronized nanoparticles, also called nanoparticle-cored dendrimers, combine the advantages of nanoparticles and dendrimers. These very stable and polyvalent nanoparticles can be used for diverse applications. One such application is drug delivery, because the dendrons can enhance the density of the payload. In this report, we describe the design of multifunctional gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) coated with poly(propylene imine) (PPI) dendrons that contain both prostate cancer active targeting and chemotherapeutic drugs. The PPI dendron is a good candidate for the design of drug delivery vehicles because of its ability to induce a proton sponge effect that will enhance lysosomal escape and intracellular therapeutic delivery. The chemotherapeutic drug used is doxorubicin (DOX), and it was linked to the dendron through a hydrazone acid-sensitive bond. Subsequent acidification of the AuNP system to a pH of 4–5 resulted in the release of 140 DOX drugs per nanoparticles. In addition, the PPI dendron was conjugated via “click” chemistry to an EphA2-targeting antibody fragment that has been shown to target prostate cancer cells. In vitro cell viability assays revealed an IC50 of 0.9 nM for the targeted DOX-bearing AuNPs after 48 h incubation with PC3 cells. These results are very promising upon optimization of the system.

Construction of a three-mode sensor based on gold nanoparticles and carbon quantum dots as probes for the detection of thiosemicarbazone

“…Gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) have become one of the most representative noble metal nanomaterials, which have special optical properties such as high molar extinction coefficient and wide absorption spectrum. As special nanomaterials, they are used in drug loading, 25 cancer diagnosis, 26 environmental monitoring, 27 optical and electrochemical sensors, 28,29 etc. In the dispersed stage, AuNP appears wine red, where their color changes to violet or blue-gray when agglomerated by a target analyte, and their surface plasmon resonance (SPR) peaks shift toward longer wavelengths.…”