title: Surface chemistry of gold nanorods: origin of cell membrane damage and cytotoxicity.
abstract: We investigated how surface chemistry influences the interaction between gold nanorods (AuNRs) and cell membranes and the subsequent cytotoxicity arising from them in a serum-free cell culture system. Our results showed that the AuNRs coated with cetyl trimethylammonium bromide (CTAB) molecules can generate defects in the cell membrane and induce cell death, mainly due to the unique bilayer structure of CTAB molecules on the surface of the rods rather than their charge. Compared to CTAB-capped nanorods, positively charged polyelectrolyte-coated, i.e. poly(diallyldimethyl ammonium chloride) (PDDAC), AuNRs show improved biocompatibility towards cells. Thus, the present results indicate that the nature of surface molecules, especially their packing structures on the surface of AuNRs rather than surface charge, play a more crucial role in determining cytotoxicity. These findings about interfacial interactions could also explain the effects of internalized AuNRs on the structures or functions of organelles. This study will help understanding of the toxic nature of AuNRs and guide rational design of the surface chemistry of AuNRs for good biocompatibility in pharmaceutical therapy.
authors.affiliation: CAS Key Laboratory for Biomedical Effects of Nanomaterials and Nanosafety, Institute of High Energy Physics and National Center for Nanoscience and Technology, Beijing, China.
authors.forename: Liming
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Xiumei
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Jiang
authors.forename: Yinglu
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Ji
authors.forename: Ru
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Bai
authors.forename: Yuliang
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Zhao
authors.forename: Xiaochun
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.forename: Chunying
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Chen
mesh_terms: D001672:Biocompatible Materials / Q000737:chemistry; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D002462:Cell Membrane / Q000737:chemistry / Q000648:ultrastructure; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000187:drug effects; D000077286:Cetrimonium; D002593:Cetrimonium Compounds / Q000737:chemistry; D006046:Gold / Q000737:chemistry*; D006801:Humans; D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; D043942:Nanotubes / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000633:toxicity / Q000648:ultrastructure; D011095:Polyethylenes / Q000737:chemistry; D000644:Quaternary Ammonium Compounds / Q000737:chemistry; D013499:Surface Properties
chemical_list: D001672:Biocompatible Materials; D002593:Cetrimonium Compounds; D011095:Polyethylenes; D000644:Quaternary Ammonium Compounds; C041004:poly-N,N-dimethyl-N,N-diallylammonium chloride; D006046:Gold; D000077286:Cetrimonium