Work

TAT Peptide-Functionalized Gold Nanostars: Enhanced Intracellular Delivery and Efficient NIR Photothermal Therapy Using Ultralow Irradiance

Year: 2012

Type: article

Abstract: Gold nanoparticles have great potential in plasmonic photothermal therapy (photothermolysis), but their intracellular delivery and photothermolysis efficiency have yet to be optimized. We show that TAT-peptide-functionalized gold nanostars (NS) enter cells significantly more than bare or PEGylated NS. The cellular uptake mechanism involves actin-driven lipid raft-mediated macropinocytosis, where particles primarily accumulate in macropinosomes but may also leak out into the cytoplasm. After 4-h incubation of TAT-NS on BT549 breast cancer cells, photothermolysis was accomplished using 850 nm pulsed laser under 0.2 W/cm(2) irradiation, below the maximal permissible exposure of skin. These results demonstrate the enhanced intracellular delivery and efficient photothermolysis of TAT-NS, promising agents in cancer therapy.

Source: Journal of the American Chemical Society

DOI: 10.1021/ja304180y

Authors: Hsiangkuo Yuan, Andrew M. Fales, Tuan Vo-Dinh

Institution: Duke University

Language: English

Topic: Nanoplatforms for cancer theranostics

Subfield: Biomedical Engineering

Field: Engineering

Domain: Physical Sciences

SDG: Good health and well-being

Open Access status: green

Funder: National Institute of Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering