Advanced microscopy of star-shaped gold nanoparticles and their adsorption-uptake by macrophages.

ABSTRACT: Metallic nanoparticles have diverse applications in biomedicine, as diagnostics, image contrast agents, nanosensors and drug delivery systems. Anisotropic metallic nanoparticles possess potential applications in cell imaging and therapy + diagnostics (theranostics), but controlled synthesis and growth of these anisotropic or branched nanostructures has been challenging and usually require use of high concentrations of surfactants. Star-shaped gold nanoparticles were synthesized in high yield through a seed mediated route using HEPES as a precise shape-directing capping agent. Characterization was performed using advanced electron microscopy techniques including atomic resolution TEM, obtaining a detailed characterization of nanostructure and atomic arrangement. Spectroscopy techniques show

SUBMITTER: Plascencia-Villa G 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3634588 | biostudies-literature | 2013 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature