title: Novel morphology change of Au-Methotrexate conjugates: From nanochains to discrete nanoparticles.
abstract: A novel morphology change of Au-methotrexate (Au-MTX) conjugates that could transform from nanochains to discrete nanoparticles was achieved by a simple, one-pot, and hydrothermal growth method. Herein, MTX was used efficiently as a complex-forming agent, reducing agent, capping agent, and importantly a targeting anticancer drug. The formation mechanism suggested a similarity with the molecular imprinting technology. The Au-MTX complex induced the MTX molecules to selectively adsorb on different crystal facets of gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) and then formed gold nanospheres. Moreover, the abundantly binding MTX molecules promoted directional alignment of these gold nanospheres to further form nanochains. More interestingly, the linear structures gradually changed into discrete nanoparticles by adding different amount of ethylene diamine tetra (methylene phosphonic acid) (EDTMPA) into the initial reaction solution, which likely arose from the strong electrostatic effect of the negatively charged phosphonic acid groups. Compared with the as-prepared nanochains, the resultant discrete nanoparticles showed almost equal drug loading capacity but with higher drug release control, colloidal stability, and in vitro anticancer activity.
authors.affiliation: Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Biofunctional Material, College of Chemistry and Material Science, Nanjing Normal University, Nanjing, 210023, China.
authors.forename: Wei-Yuan
authors.initials: WY
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Biofunctional Material, College of Chemistry and Material Science, Nanjing Normal University, Nanjing, 210023, China.
authors.forename: Xiu-Fen
authors.initials: XF
authors.lastname: Zhao
authors.affiliation: Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Biofunctional Material, College of Chemistry and Material Science, Nanjing Normal University, Nanjing, 210023, China.
authors.forename: Xiao-Han
authors.initials: XH
authors.lastname: Ju
authors.affiliation: Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Biofunctional Material, College of Chemistry and Material Science, Nanjing Normal University, Nanjing, 210023, China.
authors.forename: Yu
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Biofunctional Material, College of Chemistry and Material Science, Nanjing Normal University, Nanjing, 210023, China.
authors.forename: Lin
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Biofunctional Material, College of Chemistry and Material Science, Nanjing Normal University, Nanjing, 210023, China; Jiangsu Provincial Key Laboratory of Palygorskite Science and Applied Technology, Huaiyin Institute of Technology, Huaian, 223003, China. Electronic address: lishuping@njnu.edu.cn.
authors.forename: Shu-Ping
authors.initials: SP
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Biofunctional Material, College of Chemistry and Material Science, Nanjing Normal University, Nanjing, 210023, China.
authors.forename: Xiao-Dong
authors.initials: XD
authors.lastname: Li
mesh_terms: D000072283:A549 Cells; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000737:chemistry; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D016503:Drug Delivery Systems / Q000379:methods; D065546:Drug Liberation; D005029:Ethylenediamines / Q000737:chemistry; D006046:Gold / Q000737:chemistry*; D006801:Humans; D053768:Metal Nanoparticles / Q000737:chemistry*; D008727:Methotrexate / Q000737:chemistry*; D054118:Nanospheres / Q000737:chemistry; D055672:Static Electricity
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D005029:Ethylenediamines; C031234:ethylenediamine; D006046:Gold; D008727:Methotrexate
keywords: Anticancer drug; Discrete nanoparticles; Gold; Methotrexate; Nanochains