title: Intracellularly grown gold nanoparticles as potential surface-enhanced Raman scattering probes.
abstract: Gold nanoparticles grown within the intracellular confines of living cells are introduced as potential surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) substrates for confocal Raman spectrometry. Electron microscopy and a silver-enhanced reflectance laser scanning confocal microscopic approach were used to visualize the size, shape, and distribution of intracellularly grown gold nanoparticles (IGAuN) as small as 1 nm. Passive uptake as the conventional approach for delivering nanoparticles inside cells faces the insurmountable challenge of escaping the endosomal/lysosomal pathway. In contrast, IGAuN provides an unprecedented advantage of providing access to cytoplasm and nucleus.
authors.affiliation: Purdue University, Department of Agricultural and Biological Engineering and Bindley Biosciences Center, 225 South University Street, West Lafayette, Indiana 47907, USA.
authors.forename: Ali
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Shamsaie
authors.forename: Magdalena
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Jonczyk
authors.forename: Jennie
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Sturgis
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Paul Robinson
authors.forename: Joseph
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Irudayaraj
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002460:Cell Line; D003287:Contrast Media; D004847:Epithelial Cells / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D006046:Gold / Q000737:chemistry*; D007089:Image Enhancement / Q000379:methods*; D051379:Mice; D015336:Molecular Probe Techniques; D053758:Nanoparticles / Q000737:chemistry / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D012542:Scattering, Radiation; D013059:Spectrum Analysis, Raman / Q000379:methods*
chemical_list: D003287:Contrast Media; D006046:Gold