5 research outputs found
Quantification of Loading and Laser-Assisted Release of RNA from Single Gold Nanoparticles
Novel
RNA-based technologies provide an avenue of possibilities
to control the regulation of gene expression in cells. To realize
the full potential of small interfering RNA (siRNA)-based therapy,
efficient delivery vehicles and novel strategies for triggering release
from carrier vehicles have to be developed. Gold nanoparticles (AuNPs)
with sizes of ∼50–150 nm have the ability to accumulate
in tumor tissue and can be transported across the membrane by endocytosis.
Therefore, a laser-controlled oligonucleotide release from such particles
is of particular interest. Here, we quantify the loading of specifically
attached microRNA oligonucleotides (miRNA) onto single gold nanoparticles
with diameters of 80, 100, 150, and 200 nm. We show that AuNPs have
a curvature-dependent density of miRNA loading: the higher the curvature,
the higher the loading density. Moreover, we demonstrate how one sensing
strand of an RNA duplex can be dehybridized and hence released from
the AuNP by heating the AuNP by irradiation with a near-infrared (NIR)
laser. Laser-induced release is also demonstrated inside living cells.
Together, these findings show that plasmonic nanoparticles with high
curvatures are ideal carriers of oligonucleotides into cells, and
their cargo can be released in a controlled manner by a thermoplasmonic
mechanism. Importantly, this remotely controlled release strategy
can be applied to any cargo attached to a plasmonic nanocarrier, on
either the single particle or ensemble level