1 research outputs found
Tailoring the Synthesis and Heating Ability of Gold Nanoprisms for Bioapplications
The paper describes a novel and straightforward wet-chemical
synthetic
route to produce biocompatible single-crystalline gold tabular nanoparticles,
herein called nanoprisms (NPRs) due to their characteristic shape.
Besides the novelty of the method to produce NPRs with an unprecedented
high yield, the synthesis avoids the use of highly toxic cetyltrimethylammonium
bromide (CTAB), the most widely used surfactant for the synthesis
of gold anisotropic nanoparticles such as nanorods or nanoprisms.
The method presented here allows for tuning the edge length of NPRs
in the range of 100–170 nm by adjusting the final concentration/molar
ratio of gold salt and reducing agent (thiosulfate), while the thickness
of NPRs remained constant (9 nm). Thus, the surface plasmon band of
NPRs can be set along the near-infrared (NIR) range. The resulting
NPRs were derivatized with heterobifunctional polyethylene glycol
(PEG) and 4-aminophenyl β-d-glucopyranoside (glucose)
chains to improve their stability and cellular uptake, respectively.
The heating properties of colloidal solutions of NPRs upon 1064 nm
light illumination were evaluated. As a proof of concept, the biocompatibility
and suitability of functional NPRs as photothermal agents were studied
in cell cultures. Due to their biocompatibility (avoiding CTAB), ease
of production, ease of functionalization, and remarkable heating features,
the NPRs discussed herein represent a significant advance in the biocompatibility
of nanoparticles and serve as an attractive alternative to those currently
in use as plasmonic photothermal agents