Biodegradable Gold Nanoclusters with Improved Excretion Due to pH-Triggered Hydrophobic-to-Hydrophilic Transition.

ABSTRACT: Gold is a highly useful nanomaterial for many clinical applications, but its poor biodegradability can impair long-term physiological clearance. Large gold nanoparticles (∼10-200 nm), such as those required for long blood circulation times and appreciable tumor localization, often exhibit little to no dissolution and excretion. This can be improved by incorporating small gold particles within a larger entity, but elimination may still be protracted due to incomplete dispersion of gold. The present study describes a novel gold nanoparticle formulation capable of environmentally triggered decomposition. Ultrasmall gold nanoparticles are coated with thiolated dextran, and hydrophobic acetal groups are installed through direct covalent modification of the dextran. This hydrophobic exterior all

SUBMITTER: Higbee-Dempsey EM 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7238296 | biostudies-literature | 2020 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature