title: Phagocytosis of biocompatible gold nanoparticles.
abstract: We report the evidence for the cellular uptake of gold nanoparticles via the phagocytosis mechanism in murine macrophage cells strongly supported by TEM and optical microscopy. Nanoparticles were prepared using several biocompatible molecules of choice (5-aminovaleric acid, l-DOPA, melatonin, and serotonin hydrochloride) as stabilizers for gold colloids. Their surface chemistry was fully characterized by UV-vis, ATR-FTIR, (1)H NMR, and HR-MAS (1)H NMR spectroscopies, and size distribution was determined by CPS disc centrifuge and TEM. Differences in coatings were evaluated against cellular uptake, and a preferential movement of macrophages toward 5-aminovaleric acid-modified gold nanoparticles was shown, leading to the fast accumulation of nanoparticles in the cytosol.
authors.affiliation: Dipartimento di Chimica Inorganica Metallorganica e Analitica Lamberto Malatesta, University of Milan, Via Venezian 21, 20133 Milan, Italy.
authors.forename: Zeljka
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Krpetić
authors.forename: Francesca
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Porta
authors.forename: Enrico
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Caneva
authors.forename: Vladimiro
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Dal Santo
authors.forename: Giorgio
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Scarì
mesh_terms: D021542:Amino Acids, Neutral / Q000378:metabolism; D000818:Animals; D020099:Coated Materials, Biocompatible / Q000378:metabolism*; D006046:Gold / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000378:metabolism*; D008264:Macrophages / Q000166:cytology; D008297:Male; D053768:Metal Nanoparticles; D051379:Mice; D046529:Microscopy, Electron, Transmission; D010587:Phagocytosis
chemical_list: D021542:Amino Acids, Neutral; D020099:Coated Materials, Biocompatible; C013809:5-aminovaleric acid; D006046:Gold