title: Self-assembly and characterization of transferrin-gold nanoconstructs and their interaction with bio-interfaces.
abstract: Transferrin (Tf) conjugated to gold nanoparticles and clusters combine the protein's site-specific receptor targeting capabilities with the optical properties imparted by the nano-sized gold. We have described two different synthesis protocols, one yielding fluorescent Tf-stabilized gold nanoclusters (AuNCs) and one yielding Tf-stabilized gold nanoparticles that exhibit localized surface plasmon resonance. We demonstrate that the synthetic route employed has a large influence both on the gold nanostructure formed, and also on the structural integrity of the protein. A slight protein unfolding allows stronger interaction with lipids, and was found to significantly perturb lipid monolayers. Interactions between the protein-gold nanostructures and three different cell types were also assessed, indicating that the enhanced membrane affinity may be attributed to intercellular membrane differences.
authors: Ugelstad Laboratory, Department of Chemical Engineering, Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU), 7491 Trondheim, Norway. birgitte.h.mcdonagh@ntnu.no.
authors: Birgitte H
authors: BH
authors: McDonagh
authors: Sondre
authors: S
authors: Volden
authors: Sina M
authors: SM
authors: Lystvet
authors: Gurvinder
authors: G
authors: Singh
authors: Marit-Helen G
authors: MH
authors: Ese
authors: Joseph A
authors: JA
authors: Ryan
authors: Mikael
authors: M
authors: Lindgren
authors: Axel
authors: A
authors: Sandvig
authors: Ioanna
authors: I
authors: Sandvig
authors: Wilhelm R
authors: WR
authors: Glomm
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002460:Cell Line; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000187:drug effects; D005456:Fluorescent Dyes / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D006046:Gold / Q000737:chemistry*; D006801:Humans; D008055:Lipids; D053768:Metal Nanoparticles / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000633:toxicity; D051381:Rats; D013056:Spectrophotometry, Ultraviolet; D014168:Transferrin / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D005456:Fluorescent Dyes; D008055:Lipids; D014168:Transferrin; D006046:Gold