title: Cellular uptake and toxicity of gold nanoparticles in prostate cancer cells: a comparative study of rods and spheres.
abstract: Using a series of gold nanoparticles with incremental increase in dimensions but varying geometries (spherical vs rods) we have evaluated the influence of shape, size, surface properties and concentration on cellular uptake, adsorption of proteins and toxicity in a human prostate cancer cell line (PC-3). In the range of 30-90 nm diameter studied, spherical particles of 50 nm in diameter without polyethylene glycol (PEG) had the highest uptake. Surface attachment of PEG reduced cellular uptake. PEGylated gold nanorods had a net positive charge compared with their spherical counterparts and particle geometry influenced cellular uptake. In the absence of serum proteins the uptake of plain spherical GNPs increased. These studies pave the way for the tailoring of gold nanoparticles for targeted tumor therapy applications.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmaceutics and Pharmaceutical Chemistry, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah 84108, USA.
authors.forename: Alexander
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Malugin
authors.forename: Hamidreza
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Ghandehari
mesh_terms: D000327:Adsorption; D001798:Blood Proteins / Q000737:chemistry; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D002470:Cell Survival; D055598:Chemical Phenomena; D004337:Drug Carriers / Q000737:chemistry / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000633:toxicity; D004705:Endocytosis; D006046:Gold / Q000737:chemistry / Q000493:pharmacokinetics* / Q000633:toxicity*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D053768:Metal Nanoparticles / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D046529:Microscopy, Electron, Transmission; D009994:Osmolar Concentration; D010316:Particle Size; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols; D011471:Prostatic Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D013499:Surface Properties
chemical_list: D001798:Blood Proteins; D004337:Drug Carriers; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols; D006046:Gold