The Effect of Membrane Charge on Gold Nanoparticle Synthesis via Surfactant Membranes

Uncoated gold nanoparticles create fewer and less localized defects in model prokaryotic than in model eukaryotic lipid membranes

The rise of the populations of antibiotic resistant bacteria represents an increasing threat to human health. In addition to the synthesis of new antibiotics, which is an extremely expensive and time-consuming process, one of the ways to combat bacterial infections is the use of gold nanoparticles (Au NPs) as the vehicles for targeted delivery of therapeutic drugs. Since such a strategy requires the investigation of the effect of Au NPs (with and without drugs) on both bacterial and human cells, we investigated how the presence of coating-free Au NPs affects the physicochemical properties of lipid membranes that model prokaryotic (PRO) and eukaryotic (EU) cells. PRO/EU systems prepared as multilamellar liposomes (MLVs) and hybrid structures (HSs) from 1,2-dipalmitoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine (DPPC) and 1,2-dipalmitoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphatidylglycerol (DPPG)/1,2-dipalmitoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphoserine (DPPS) in the absence (MLVs)/presence (HSs) of differently distributed Au NPs (sizes ∼20 nm) reported stabilization of the gel phase of PRO systems in comparison with EU one (DSC data of PRO/EU were Tm(MLVs) ≈ 41.8 °C/42.0 °C, Tm¯ (HSs) ≈ 43.1 °C/42.4 °C, whereas UV-Vis response Tm(MLVs) ≈ 41.5 °C/42.0 °C, Tm¯ (HSs) ≈ 42.9 °C/41.1 °C). Vibrational spectroscopic data unraveled a substantial impact of Au NPs on the non-polar part of lipid bilayers, emphasizing the increase of kink and gauche conformers of the hydrocarbon chain. By interpreting the latter as Au NPs-induced defects, which exert the greatest effect when Au NPs are found exclusively outside the lipid membrane, these findings suggested that Au NPs reduced the compactness of EU-based lipid bilayers much more than in analogous PRO systems. Since the uncoated Au NPs manifested adverse effects when applied as antimicrobials, the results obtained in this work contribute towards recognizing AuNP functionalization as a strategy in tuning and reversing this effect.

Preparation and evaluation of a niosomal delivery system containing G. mangostana extract and study of its anti-Acanthamoeba activity

Garcinia mangostana extract (GME) has severe pharmacokinetic deficiencies and is made up of a variety of bioactive components. GME has proven its anti-Acanthamoeba effectiveness. In this investigation, a GME-loaded niosome was developed to increase its potential therapeutic efficacy. A GME-loaded niosome was prepared by encapsulation in a mixture of span60, cholesterol, and chloroform by the thin film hydration method. The vesicle size, zeta potential, percentage of entrapment efficiency, and stability of GME-loaded niosomes were investigated. The values for GME-loaded niosome size and zeta potential were 404.23 ± 4.59 and -32.03 ± 0.95, respectively. The delivery system enhanced the anti-Acanthamoeba activity, which possessed MIC values of 0.25-4 mg mL-1. In addition, the niosomal formulation decreased the toxicity of GME by 16 times. GME-loaded niosome must be stored at 4 °C, as the quantity of remaining GME encapsulated is greater at this temperature than at room temperature. SEM revealed the damage to the cell membrane caused by trophozoites and cysts, which led to dead cells. In light of the above, it was found that GME-loaded niosomes had better anti-Acanthamoeba activity. The study suggested that GME-loaded niosomes could be used as an alternative to Acanthamoeba's therapeutic effects.

Phospholipid-derived Au and Au-Cu suspensions as efficient peroxide and borohydride activators for organic molecules degradation: Performance and sustainable catalytic mechanism

In the contemporary context, executing light-oxidant- and reductant-driven reactions in solution-phase processes remains challenging mainly due to the lack of general tools for understanding the reactive potential of nano-functional catalysts. In this study, dual-active nanometals (Au and Cu doped with Au) capped within soy lecithin (SL), were developed and characterized, combining flexibility with the catalytic advantages and stability of liquid-phase catalysts. The as-synthesized SL-Au (LG) and SL-Au-Cu (LGC) catalysts were efficiently degraded rhodamine B (RB, 100%) in the presence of H2O2 under light irradiation (350 W lamp) at wide pH range (3-7) within 4.5 h and p-nitrophenol (p-NP, >90% degradation at pH 7) in the presence of NaBH4 under normal stirring with slower kinetics (∼72 h). RB degradation followed a pseudo-second-order kinetic model with a higher r2, and p-NP degradation followed first-order kinetics. The active sites embedded within the structural order of SL arrangement displayed elevated catalytic activity, which was further enhanced by the movement of intermediate/excited states and charged elements within the metal suspended in the phospholipid (LG and LGC). The self-regulating tunability of the physicochemical characteristics of these catalysts provides a convenient and generalizable platform for the transformation of modern dual-active (redox) catalysts into dynamic homogeneous equivalents.

Biomimetic synthesis of silver nanoparticles using the fish scales of Labeo rohita and their application as catalysts for the reduction of aromatic nitro compounds

In this article, a cleaner, greener, cheaper and environment friendly method for the generation of self assembled silver nanoparticles (Ag NPs) applying a simple irradiation technique using the aqueous extract of the fish scales (which is considered as a waste material) of Labeo rohita is described. Gelatin is considered as the major ingredient responsible for the reduction as well as stabilisation of the self assembled Ag NPs. The size and morphology of the individual Ag NPs can be tuned by controlling the various reaction parameters, such as temperature, concentration, and pH. Studies showed that on increasing concentration and pH Ag NPs size decreases, while on increasing temperature, Ag NPs size increases. The present process does not need any external reducing agent, like sodium borohydride or hydrazine or others and gelatin itself can play a dual role: a 'reducing agent' and 'stabilisation agent' for the formation of gelatin-Ag NPs colloidal dispersion. The synthesized Ag NPs were characterised by Ultraviolet-Visible spectroscopy (UV-Vis), Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and Selected area electron diffraction (SAED) analyses. The synthesized Ag NPs was used to study the catalytic reduction of various aromatic nitro compounds in aqueous and three different micellar media. The hydrophobic and electrostatic interaction between the micelle and the substrate is responsible for the catalytic activity of the nanoparticles in micelle.

Synthesis and characterization of a calix[4]arene amphiphilie bearing cysteine and uniform Au nanoparticle formation templated by its four cysteine moieties

A novel calix[4]arene amphiphilic molecule, denoted by CCaL3, was synthesized and found to form a spherical micelle consisting of 12 molecules at low pH in aqueous solution. Furthermore, uniform Au nanoparticles with 2.0 nm in diameter were synthesized in aqueous solution on the template consisting of the four cysteines of the upper rim of CCaL3. Asymmetric field flow fractionation coupled with light scattering showed that there was no dispersity in the CCaL3 micellar aggregation number. When AuCl4(-) ions were added into the CCaL3 micelle solution, induced circular dichroism (ICD) appeared, indicating appearance of the structural chirality of the CCaL3/AuCl4(-) complex. A combination of electron microscopy and small-angle X-ray scattering showed that helically coiled bilayer sheets were formed upon addition of AuCl4(-). Subsequent reduction with the amine of cysteine moieties led to uniform Au nanoparticles formation with 2.0 nm in diameter on the micellar plate surface. The nanoparticle size was almost equal to the size of cavity constructed by the four cysteines on the calix[4]arene upper rim, indicating that the growth of Au nanoparticles was spatially controlled by the host-guest interaction between the cysteines and Au.

Light-sensitive lipid-based nanoparticles for drug delivery: design principles and future considerations for biological applications

Radiation-based therapies aided by nanoparticles have been developed for decades, and can be primarily categorized into two main platforms. First, delivery of payload of photo-reactive drugs (photosensitizers) using the conventional nanoparticles, and second, design and development of photo-triggerable nanoparticles (primarily liposomes) to attain light-assisted on-demand drug delivery. The main focus of this review is to provide an update of the history, current status and future applications of photo-triggerable lipid-based nanoparticles (light-sensitive liposomes). We will begin with a brief overview on the applications of liposomes for delivery of photosensitizers, including the choice of photosensitizers for photodynamic therapy, as well as the currently available light sources (lasers) used for these applications. The main segment of this review will encompass the details of strategies used to develop photo-triggerable liposomes for their drug delivery function. The principles underlying the assembly of photoreactive lipids into nanoparticles (liposomes) and photo-triggering mechanisms will be presented. We will also discuss factors that limit the applications of these liposomes for in vivo triggered drug delivery and emerging concepts that may lead to the biologically viable photo-activation strategies. We will conclude with our view point on the future perspectives of light-sensitive liposomes in the clinic.

C-reactive protein induced rearrangement of phosphatidylcholine on nanoparticle mimics of lipoprotein particles

Lipid-coated metal nanoparticles are developed here as a mimic of low-density lipoprotein (LDL) particles and used to study C-reactive protein (CRP) binding to highly curved lipid membranes. A 12 nm shift in the localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR) was observed when CRP was added to the lipid-coated gold nanoparticles. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) revealed that CRP induced a structural change to the lipids, resulting in clusters of nanoparticles. This clustering provides a visualization of how CRP could cause the aggregation of LDL particles, which is a key step in atherosclerosis. The cluster formation and resultant LSPR shift requires the presence of both CRP and calcium. Fluorescence anisotropy, using a CRP-specific, fluorophore-labeled aptamer confirmed that CRP was bound to the lipid-coated nanoparticles. An increase in the fluorescence anisotropy (Delta r = +0.261 +/- 0.004) of the aptamer probe occurs in the presence of CRP, PC-coated nanoparticles, and calcium. Subsequent sequestration of calcium by EDTA leads to a decrease in the anisotropy (Delta r = -0.233 +/- 0.011); however, there is no change in the LSPR and no change to the cluster structure observed by TEM. This indicates that CRP binds to the PC membrane on the nanoparticle surface reversibly through a calcium bridging mechanism while changing the underlying membrane structure irreversibly as a result of binding.

Optically guided controlled release from liposomes with tunable plasmonic nanobubbles

A new method of optically guided controlled release was experimentally evaluated with liposomes containing a molecular load and gold nanoparticles (NPs). NPs were exposed to short laser pulses to induce transient vapor bubbles around the NPs, plasmonic nanobubbles, in order to disrupt the liposome and eject its molecular contents. The release efficacy was tuned by varying the lifetime and size of the nanobubble with the fluence of the laser pulse. Optical scattering by nanobubbles correlated to the molecular release and was used to guide the release. The release of two fluorescent proteins from individual liposomes has been directly monitored by fluorescence microscopy, while the generation of the plasmonic nanobubbles was imaged and measured with optical scattering techniques. Plasmonic nanobubble-induced release was found to be a mechanical, nonthermal process that requires a single laser pulse and ejects the liposome contents within a millisecond timescale without damage to the molecular cargo and that can be controlled through the fluence of laser pulse.

PEG branched polymer for functionalization of nanomaterials with ultralong blood circulation

Nanomaterials have been actively pursued for biological and medical applications in recent years. Here, we report the synthesis of several new poly(ethylene glycol) grafted branched polymers for functionalization of various nanomaterials including carbon nanotubes, gold nanoparticles (NPs), and gold nanorods (NRs), affording high aqueous solubility and stability for these materials. We synthesize different surfactant polymers based upon poly(gamma-glutamic acid) (gammaPGA) and poly(maleic anhydride-alt-1-octadecene) (PMHC18). We use the abundant free carboxylic acid groups of gammaPGA for attaching lipophilic species such as pyrene or phospholipid, which bind to nanomaterials via robust physisorption. Additionally, the remaining carboxylic acids on gammaPGA or the amine-reactive anhydrides of PMHC18 are then PEGylated, providing extended hydrophilic groups, affording polymeric amphiphiles. We show that single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWNTs), Au NPs, and NRs functionalized by the polymers exhibit high stability in aqueous solutions at different pH values, at elevated temperatures, and in serum. Moreover, the polymer-coated SWNTs exhibit remarkably long blood circulation (t(1/2) = 22.1 h) upon intravenous injection into mice, far exceeding the previous record of 5.4 h. The ultralong blood circulation time suggests greatly delayed clearance of nanomaterials by the reticuloendothelial system (RES) of mice, a highly desired property for in vivo applications of nanomaterials, including imaging and drug delivery.

Reversible, reagentless solubility changes in phosphatidylcholine-stabilized gold nanoparticles

Phosphatidylcholine (PC) is a versatile ligand for synthesizing gold nanoparticles that are soluble in either organic or aqueous media. Here we report a novel route to organic-soluble, PC-stabilized gold nanoparticles that can be re-suspended in water after removal of the organic solvent. Similarly, we show that PC-stabilized gold nanoparticles synthesized in water can be re-suspended in organic solvents after complete removal of water. Without complete removal of the solvent, the nanoparticles retain their original solubility and do not phase transfer. This change in solvent preference from organic to aqueous and vice versa without the use of an additional phase transfer reagent is novel, visually striking, and of utility for synthetic modification of nanoparticles. This approach allows chemical reactions to be performed on nanoparticles in organic solvents followed by conversion of the products to water-soluble materials. A narrow distribution of PC-stabilized gold nanoparticles was obtained after phase transfer to water as characterized by UV-visible (UV-vis) spectroscopy and transmission electron microscopy (TEM), demonstrating that the narrow distribution obtained from the organic synthesis is retained after transfer to water. This method produces water-soluble nanoparticles with a narrower dispersity than is possible with direct aqueous synthesis.

Photochemical deposition of SERS active silver nanoparticles on silica gel and their application as catalysts for the reduction of aromatic nitro compounds

We report an impregnation technique for immobilization of silver(I) gelatin complex on silica gel. Subsequent UV exposure of the dry impregnated silica gel deposited silver nanoparticles on the solid matrix. Conventional techniques (UV-visible spectroscopy, TEM, EDAX, and thermal analysis) have been used to identify and characterize silver particles on silica surfaces. The photoproduced silver particles have shown unique SERS activity that authenticates the presence of silver nanoclusters in the silica matrix. Hence, the surface of the silica matrix remains SERS-active for months. This surface activity of the silica matrix inspired us to successfully study the catalytic reduction of nitro-compounds in aqueous, organic, and three different micellar media. Different thermodynamic parameters for the reduction processes have also been evaluated. Catalytic activity of the particles in micelles is explained in the light of hydrophobic and electrostatic interactions between the substrate and the micelles.