title: Synthesis of Au Nanostars and Their Application as Surface Enhanced Raman Scattering-Activity Tags Inside Living Cells.
abstract: This work presents the synthesis and characterization of Au nanostars (AuNSs) and demonstrates their application as surface enhanced Raman scattering (SERS)-activity tags for cellular imaging and sensing. Nile blue A (NBA) and bovine serum albumin (BSA) were used as Raman reporter molecules and capping materials, respectively. The SERS-activity tags were tested on human lung adenocarcinoma cell (A549) and alveolar type II cell (AT II) and found to present a low level of cytotoxicity and high chemical stability. These SERS-activity tags not only can be applied in multiplexed cellular imaging, including dark field imaging, transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and SERS imaging, but also can be used for cellular sensing. The SERS spectra clearly identified cellular important components such as proteins, nucleic acids, lipids, and carbohydrates. This study also shows that endocytosis is the main channel of tags internalized in cells. The AuNSs exhibiting strong surface enhanced Raman effects are utilized in the design of an efficient, stable SERS-activity tag for intracellular applications.
authors.forename: Xiaowei
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Cao
authors.forename: Chaowen
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Shi
authors.forename: Wenbo
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Lu
authors.forename: Hang
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Zhao
authors.forename: Man
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Wei
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Tong
authors.forename: Jian
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Dong
authors.forename: Xiaodong
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Han
authors.forename: Weiping
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Qian
mesh_terms: D056809:Alveolar Epithelial Cells / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D000818:Animals; D002417:Cattle; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D006046:Gold / Q000737:chemistry*; D006801:Humans; D008422:Materials Testing; D053768:Metal Nanoparticles / Q000737:chemistry*; D012710:Serum Albumin, Bovine / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology; D013059:Spectrum Analysis, Raman
chemical_list: D012710:Serum Albumin, Bovine; D006046:Gold