title: Gold nanoparticles explore cells: cellular uptake and their use as intracellular probes.
abstract: Understanding uptake of nanomaterials by cells and their use for intracellular sensing is important for studying their interaction and toxicology as well as for obtaining new biological insight. Here, we investigate cellular uptake and intracellular dynamics of gold nanoparticles and demonstrate their use in reporting chemical information from the endocytotic pathway and cytoplasm. The intracellular gold nanoparticles serve as probes for surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) allowing for biochemical characterisation of their local environment. In particular, in this work we compare intracellular SERS using non-functionalised and functionalised nanoparticles in their ability to segregate different but closely related cell phenotypes. The results indicate that functionalised gold nanoparticles are more efficient in distinguishing between different types of cells. Our studies pave the way for understanding the uptake of gold nanoparticles and their utilisation for SERS to give rise to a greater biochemical understanding in cell-based therapies.
authors.affiliation: Sector for Biological and Soft Systems, Cavendish Laboratory, Department of Physics, University of Cambridge, 19 JJ Thomson Avenue, Cambridge CB3 0HE, UK; Institute of Life Sciences and Department of Chemistry, University of Southampton, Highfield Campus, SO17 1BJ Southampton, UK.
authors.forename: Anna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Huefner
authors.affiliation: Sector for Biological and Soft Systems, Cavendish Laboratory, Department of Physics, University of Cambridge, 19 JJ Thomson Avenue, Cambridge CB3 0HE, UK; Institut de Science de d'Ingénierie Supremoléculaires, Université de Strasbourg, 8 Allée Gaspard Monge, 67083 Strasbourg Cedex, France.
authors.forename: Dedy
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Septiadi
authors.affiliation: Sector for Biological and Soft Systems, Cavendish Laboratory, Department of Physics, University of Cambridge, 19 JJ Thomson Avenue, Cambridge CB3 0HE, UK.
authors.forename: Bodo D
authors.initials: BD
authors.lastname: Wilts
authors.affiliation: Sector for Biological and Soft Systems, Cavendish Laboratory, Department of Physics, University of Cambridge, 19 JJ Thomson Avenue, Cambridge CB3 0HE, UK; Cancer Research UK Cambridge Institute, University of Cambridge, Li Ka Shing Centre, Robinson Way, Cambridge CB2 0RE, UK; Institute of Life Sciences and Department of Chemistry, University of Southampton, Highfield Campus, SO17 1BJ Southampton, UK.
authors.forename: Imran I
authors.initials: II
authors.lastname: Patel
authors.affiliation: John van Geest Centre for Brain Repair, University of Cambridge, Forvie Site, Robinson Way, Cambridge CB2 0PY, UK.
authors.forename: Wei-Li
authors.initials: WL
authors.lastname: Kuan
authors.affiliation: John van Geest Centre for Brain Repair, University of Cambridge, Forvie Site, Robinson Way, Cambridge CB2 0PY, UK.
authors.forename: Alexandra
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Fragniere
authors.affiliation: John van Geest Centre for Brain Repair, University of Cambridge, Forvie Site, Robinson Way, Cambridge CB2 0PY, UK.
authors.forename: Roger A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Barker
authors.affiliation: Sector for Biological and Soft Systems, Cavendish Laboratory, Department of Physics, University of Cambridge, 19 JJ Thomson Avenue, Cambridge CB3 0HE, UK; Institute of Life Sciences and Department of Chemistry, University of Southampton, Highfield Campus, SO17 1BJ Southampton, UK. Electronic address: s.mahajan@soton.ac.uk.
authors.forename: Sumeet
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Mahajan
mesh_terms: D058948:Cell Tracking / Q000379:methods; D003593:Cytoplasm / Q000737:chemistry; D004705:Endocytosis; D006046:Gold / Q000737:chemistry*; D006801:Humans; D021621:Imaging, Three-Dimensional / Q000379:methods*; D053768:Metal Nanoparticles / Q000737:chemistry*; D013059:Spectrum Analysis, Raman / Q000379:methods*
chemical_list: D006046:Gold
keywords: Gold nanoparticles; Intracellular imaging; Nanoparticle uptake; SERS; Surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy