Serena Milano
Italy
Research Article
Aptamer Grafting onto (on) and into (in) Pegylated Gold Nanoparticles: Physicochemical Characterization and In vitro Cytotoxicity Investigation in Renal Cells
Author(s): Celia Arib, Serena Milano, Andrea Gerbino and Jolanda SpadavecchiaCelia Arib, Serena Milano, Andrea Gerbino and Jolanda Spadavecchia
Gold Nanoparticles (AuNPs) have already a remarkable interest as viable biomedical materials. Additionally, the strategy of using biomolecules to modify their surface properties is a very attractive as it leads to the generation of new nanometric hybrid materials. In this respect, aptamers, functional small single-strand oligonucleotides (DNA or RNA), are ideal candidates for molecular targeting applications since the high affinity to their target molecules. Thus, the urge of new and effective methodologies to graft aptamers on AuNPs is rapidly increasing especially for applications in bioanalysis and biomedicine, including early diagnosis and drug delivery. Here we used two chemical methodologies to conjugate the aptamer (APT) onto pegylated gold nanoparticles (PEG-AuNPs): the carbodiimide chemistry (EDC/NHS) (methodology ON) and the chelation-bond (R-Au bond) (methodology IN). The a.. View More»
DOI:
10.4172/2157-7439.1000520