Lithium-Charged Gold Nanoparticles: A New Powerful Tool for Lithium Delivery and Modulation of Glycogen Synthase Kinase 3 Activity.

ABSTRACT: "A Trojan Horse for Lithium Delivery". Lithium has important pharmacological applications, although its use is severely limited due to its narrow therapeutic window of administrable concentrations. This study presents a novel nanocarrier for this metal cation based on glutathione-stabilized gold nanoparticles (LiG-AuNPs), which enable targeted release of lithium. LiG-AuNPs are easily synthesized, with dimensions of ≈2 nm, with a lithium loading of 2 wt%. These particles show a tendency to aggregate and a narrow size distribution. Aggregates of LiG-AuNPs (a-LiG-AuNPs) are non-toxic to cells at concentrations lower than 2 mg mL^-1 and are rapidly internalized into cells, where they release lithium in the cytosol through cation exchange, effectively modulating Glycogen Synthase Kina

SUBMITTER: Buonerba A 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12801361 | biostudies-literature | 2026 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature