title: The effect of oil-water partition coefficient on the distribution and cellular uptake of liposome-encapsulated gold nanoparticles.
abstract: The shape, size, and surface features of nanoparticles greatly influence the structure and properties of resulting hybrid nanosystems. In this work, gold nanoparticles (GNPs) were modified via S-Au covalent bonding by glycol monomethyl ether thioctate with poly(ethylene glycol) methyl ether of different molecular weights (i.e., 350, 550, and 750Da). These modified GNPs (i.e., GNP350, GNP550, and GNP750) showed different oil-water partition coefficients (Kp), as detected using inductively coupled plasma-atomic emission spectroscopy. The different Kp values of the gold conjugates (i.e., 13.98, 2.11, and 0.036 for GNP350, GNP550, and GNP750, respectively) resulted in different conjugate localization within liposomes, as observed by transmission electron microscopy. In addition, the cellular uptake of hybrid liposomes co-encapsulating gold conjugates and Nile red was evaluated using intracellular fluorescence intensity. The results indicated that precise GNP localization in the hydrophilic or hydrophobic liposome cavity could be achieved by regulating the GNP oil-water partition coefficient via surface modification; such localization could further affect the properties and functions of hybrid liposomes, including their cellular uptake profiles. This study furthers the understanding not only of the interaction between liposomes and inorganic nanoparticles but also of adjusting liposome-gold hybrid nanostructure properties via the surface chemistry of gold materials.
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Drug Quality Control and Pharmacovigilance, China Pharmaceutical University, Ministry of Education, Nanjing 210009, China; State Key Laboratory of Natural Medicines and Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Drug Discovery for Metabolic Diseases, Center of Drug Discovery, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing 210009, China.
authors.forename: Quan-Ying
authors.initials: QY
authors.lastname: Bao
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Drug Quality Control and Pharmacovigilance, China Pharmaceutical University, Ministry of Education, Nanjing 210009, China.
authors.forename: Ai-Yun
authors.initials: AY
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Drug Quality Control and Pharmacovigilance, China Pharmaceutical University, Ministry of Education, Nanjing 210009, China.
authors.forename: Yu
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Ma
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry, School of Life Science and Technology, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing 210009, China.
authors.forename: Huan
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Drug Quality Control and Pharmacovigilance, China Pharmaceutical University, Ministry of Education, Nanjing 210009, China.
authors.forename: Jin
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Hong
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Natural Medicines and Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Drug Discovery for Metabolic Diseases, Center of Drug Discovery, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing 210009, China.
authors.forename: Wen-Bin
authors.initials: WB
authors.lastname: Shen
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Drug Quality Control and Pharmacovigilance, China Pharmaceutical University, Ministry of Education, Nanjing 210009, China; State Key Laboratory of Natural Medicines and Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Drug Discovery for Metabolic Diseases, Center of Drug Discovery, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing 210009, China.
authors.forename: Can
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Drug Quality Control and Pharmacovigilance, China Pharmaceutical University, Ministry of Education, Nanjing 210009, China. Electronic address: ayanju@163.com.
authors.forename: Ya
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Ding
mesh_terms: D005453:Fluorescence; D006046:Gold / Q000737:chemistry*; D056945:Hep G2 Cells; D006801:Humans; D057927:Hydrophobic and Hydrophilic Interactions; D008081:Liposomes / Q000737:chemistry*; D053768:Metal Nanoparticles / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000737:chemistry; D046529:Microscopy, Electron, Transmission; D009821:Oils / Q000737:chemistry*; D013054:Spectrophotometry, Atomic; D014867:Water / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D008081:Liposomes; D009821:Oils; D014867:Water; D006046:Gold
keywords: Cellular uptake; Gold nanoparticles; Hybrid nanostructure; Liposomes; Oil-water partition coefficient