A golden bullet? Selective targeting of Toxoplasma gondii tachyzoites using antibody-functionalized gold nanorods.
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.
Institute for Nanoscale Technology, Department of Medical and Molecular Biosciences, Institute for the Biotechnology of Infectious Diseases, University of Technology Sydney, Australia.
Dakrong
D
Pissuwan
Stella M
SM
Valenzuela
Catherine M
CM
Miller
Michael B
MB
Cortie
D000818:Animals; D000913:Antibodies, Protozoan / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006046:Gold / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006801:Humans; D043942:Nanotubes; D014122:Toxoplasma / Q000187:drug effects*; D020298:U937 Cells / Q000469:parasitology
D000913:Antibodies, Protozoan; D006046:Gold