title: Interactions of skin with gold nanoparticles of different surface charge, shape, and functionality.
abstract: The interactions between skin and colloidal gold nanoparticles of different physicochemical characteristics are investigated. By systematically varying the charge, shape, and functionality of gold nanoparticles, the nanoparticle penetration through the different skin layers is assessed. The penetration is evaluated both qualitatively and quantitatively using a variety of complementary techniques. Inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry (ICP-OES) is used to quantify the total number of particles which penetrate the skin structure. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and two photon photoluminescence microscopy (TPPL) on skin cross sections provide a direct visualization of nanoparticle migration within the different skin substructures. These studies reveal that gold nanoparticles functionalized with cell penetrating peptides (CPPs) TAT and R7 are found in the skin in larger quantities than polyethylene glycol-functionalized nanoparticles, and are able to enter deep into the skin structure. The systematic studies presented in this work may be of strong interest for developments in transdermal administration of drugs and therapy.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Life Sciences, Physics and Astronomy, Faculty of Applied and Physical Sciences, University of Southampton, Southampton, SO171BJ, UK.
authors.forename: Rute
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Fernandes
authors.forename: Neil R
authors.initials: NR
authors.lastname: Smyth
authors.forename: Otto L
authors.initials: OL
authors.lastname: Muskens
authors.forename: Simone
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Nitti
authors.forename: Amelie
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Heuer-Jungemann
authors.forename: Michael R
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Ardern-Jones
authors.forename: Antonios G
authors.initials: AG
authors.lastname: Kanaras
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000831:Animals, Newborn; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D006046:Gold / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006801:Humans; D053768:Metal Nanoparticles / Q000737:chemistry / Q000633:toxicity; D051379:Mice; D008812:Mice, Hairless; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D043942:Nanotubes / Q000737:chemistry / Q000633:toxicity; D009924:Organ Culture Techniques / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods; D010316:Particle Size; D012867:Skin / Q000166:cytology* / Q000187:drug effects*; D013499:Surface Properties
chemical_list: D006046:Gold
keywords: functionality; gold nanoparticles; peptides; skin penetration