title: Polycation-functionalized gold nanoparticles with different morphologies for superior gene transfection.
abstract: Favorable physical and chemical properties endow Au nanoparticles (Au NPs) with various biomedical applications. After appropriate surface functionalization, Au NPs could construct promising drug/gene carriers with multiple functions. There is now ample evidence that physicochemical properties, such as size, shape, and surface chemistry, can dramatically influence the behaviors of Au NPs in biological systems. Investigation of these parameters could be fundamentally important for the application of Au NPs as drug/gene carriers. In this work, we designed a series of novel gene carriers employing polycation-functionalized Au NPs with five different morphologies (including Au nanospheres, Au nano-octahedra, arrow-headed Au nanorods, and Au nanorods with different aspect ratios). The effects of the particle size and shape of these different carriers on gene transfection were investigated in detail. The morphology of Au NPs is demonstrated to play an important role in gene transfection. The most efficient gene carriers are those fabricated with arrow-headed Au nanorods. Au nanosphere-based carriers exhibit the poorest performance in gene transfection. In addition, Au nanorods with smaller aspect ratios perform better than longer ones. These results may provide new avenues to develop promising gene carriers and gain useful information on the interaction of Au NPs with biological systems.
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Chemical Resource Engineering, College of Materials Science & Engineering, Beijing University of Chemical Technology, Beijing 100029, China. zhaonn@mail.buct.edu.cn xufj@mail.buct.edu.cn.
authors.forename: Peng
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Yan
authors.forename: Ranran
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Nana
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Zhao
authors.forename: Hong
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Zhao
authors.forename: Da-Fu
authors.initials: DF
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Fu-Jian
authors.initials: FJ
authors.lastname: Xu
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D019556:COS Cells; D002522:Chlorocebus aethiops; D020099:Coated Materials, Biocompatible / Q000138:chemical synthesis; D004247:DNA / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics*; D004058:Diffusion; D004705:Endocytosis; D006046:Gold / Q000737:chemistry*; D056945:Hep G2 Cells; D006801:Humans; D008422:Materials Testing; D053768:Metal Nanoparticles / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D008689:Methacrylates / Q000737:chemistry*; D053769:Nanocapsules / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D009757:Nylons / Q000737:chemistry*; D010316:Particle Size; D014162:Transfection / Q000379:methods*
chemical_list: D020099:Coated Materials, Biocompatible; D008689:Methacrylates; D053769:Nanocapsules; D009757:Nylons; C407037:poly(2-(dimethylamino)ethyl methacrylate); D006046:Gold; D004247:DNA