The electrokinetic characterization of gold nanoparticles, functionalized with cationic functional groups, and its’ interaction with DNA

Nanomaterials-enriched sensors for detection of chiral pharmaceuticals

Advancements in nanoscience and nanotechnology have opened new pathways to fabricate novel nanostructures with interesting properties that would be used for different applications. In this respect, nanostructures comprising chirality are one of the most rapidly developing research fields encompassing chemistry, physics and biology. Chirality, also known as mirror asymmetry, describes the geometrical property of an object that is not superimposable on its mirror image. This characteristic plays a crucial role because these identical forms of chiral species in pharmaceuticals or food additives may exhibit different effects on living organisms. Therefore, chiral analysis is an important field of modern chemical analysis in health-related industries that are reliant on the production of enantiomeric compounds involving pharmaceuticals. This review covers the recent advances dealing with the synthesis, design and advantageous analytical performance of nanomaterials-enriched sensors used for chiral pharmaceuticals. We conclude this review with the challenges existing in this research field and our perspectives on some potential strategies with cutting-edge approaches for the rational design of sensors for chiral pharmaceuticals. We expect this comprehensive review will inspire future studies in nanomaterials-enriched chiral sensors.

A brief insight to the role of glyconanotechnology in modern day diagnostics and therapeutics

Carbohydrate-protein and carbohydrate-carbohydrate interactions are very important for various biological processes. Although the magnitude of these interactions is low compared to that of protein-protein interaction, the magnitude can be boosted by multivalent approach known as glycocluster effect. Nanoparticle platform is one of the best ways to present diverse glycoforms in multivalent manner and thus, the field of glyconanotechnology has emerged as an important field of research considering their potential applications in diagnostics and therapeutics. Considerable advances in the field have been achieved through development of novel techniques, use of diverse metallic and non-metallic cores for better efficacy and application of ever-increasing number of carbohydrate ligands for site-specific interaction. The present review encompasses the recent developments in the area of glyconanotechnology and their future promise as diagnostic and therapeutic tools.

Assessing Nucleic Acid: Cationic Nanoparticle Interaction for Gene Delivery

The assessment of the efficient binding between a nucleic acid and its associated nanoparticle is crucial for gene delivery. Emerging from the extensive search for versatile gene carriers, are complexes formed between nucleic acids and nonviral nanocarriers that promise to be viable alternatives to the predominantly viral-based gene delivery vehicles. However, much is still to be known about the exact structure and physico-chemical properties of such nanocomplexes. This chapter will concentrate on cationic lipid, polymer, and functionalized metal nanoparticles and their interaction with nucleic acids by direct conjugation or electrostatic interaction. Methods commonly employed to evaluate the nature and extent of nucleic acid interactions with cationic nanocarriers, such a nucleic acid binding, nuclease protection, and dye displacement assays will be described. In addition, the ultrastructural morphology, size, and zeta potential of these nanocomplexes, which are crucial for their cellular uptake and intracellular trafficking, will be assessed using electron microscopy, fluorescent detection, and nanoparticle tracking analysis (NTA). These assays have the ability to visualize and quantify the interaction and can also be used to complement each other, in addition to providing confirmation of the formation of the relevant nanocomplexes.

Sterically stabilized siRNA:gold nanocomplexes enhance c-MYC silencing in a breast cancer cell model

Aim: To produce sterically stabilized and functionalized gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) for efficient delivery of siRNA for c-MYC silencing in vitro. Materials & methods: Synthesized AuNPs were functionalized with chitosan and PEG₄₀₀ and PEG₂₀₀₀, morphologically and chemically characterized, and assessed for cytotoxicity and gene silencing in vitro. Results & discussion: AuNPs presented as spherical particles in the nanometer size range and successfully bound and protected the siRNA against degradation and were well tolerated in the breast adenocarcinoma (MCF-7) cell line. Nanoparticle-mediated gene knockdown studies revealed enhanced levels of c-MYC gene silencing with more than 90% reduction of MYC protein levels. Conclusion: These nanoformulations show enhanced potential for siRNA-mediated gene silencing in human breast cancer cells in vitro.

Dendrimer functionalized folate-targeted gold nanoparticles for luciferase gene silencing in vitro: A proof of principle study

Use of exogenous small interfering RNA (siRNA) has shown potential in gene silencing. The need for target-specific siRNA delivery vehicles is crucial to successful gene silencing. This study is aimed at developing and evaluating the safety and efficiency of siRNA delivery using unmodified and folic acid (FA) modified poly(amidoamine) generation 5 (PAMAM G5D) functionalized gold nanoparticles (Au:G5D/Au:G5D:FA) in vitro. All formulations were physico--chemically characterized and nanocomplexes were evaluated using the band shift, dye displacement, nuclease protection, MTT cell viability, and luciferase reporter gene assays. Nanocomplexes bound and protected siRNA against degrading RNases, and were well tolerated by the cells. The Au:G5D:FA nanocomplexes elicited excellent gene silencing in folate receptor expressing HeLa-Tat-Luc cells, decreasing significantly in the presence of excess FA ligand, indicating nanocomplex uptake by the mechanism of receptor mediation. These results highlight the synergistic role played by Au and the dendrimer in enhancement of transgene silencing.

In vitro cytotoxic activity and transfection efficiency of polyethyleneimine functionalized gold nanoparticles

In this study, we report on the synthesis of polyethyleneimine (PEI) coated gold nanoparticles for potential application as non-viral gene carriers. In the presence of the electrolyte, sodium citrate, the electrophoretic mobility confirmed the electroneutral nature of the nanocomplex. MTT cell viability assays showed that the Au-PEI/pDNA complexes maintained over 60% cell viability across the four cell lines tested. Transfection studies were accomplished using the luciferase reporter gene assay. Results showed that the FAuNPs produced greater transgene activity than the cationic polymer/DNA complexes on their own. This was evident for the Au-PEI/pDNA complex which produced a 12 fold increase in the HEK293 cells and a 9 fold increase in the HepG2 cells, compared to the PEI/pDNA complexes.

Delivery of vincristine sulfate-conjugated gold nanoparticles using liposomes: a light-responsive nanocarrier with enhanced antitumor efficiency

Rapid drug release at the specific site of action is still a challenge for antitumor therapy. Development of stimuli-responsive hybrid nanocarriers provides a promising strategy to enhance therapeutic effects by combining the unique features of each component. The present study explored the use of drug–gold nanoparticle conjugates incorporated into liposomes to enhance antitumor efficiency. A model drug, vincristine sulfate, was physically conjugated with gold nanoparticles and verified by UV-visible and fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, and differential scanning calorimetry. The conjugates were incorporated into liposomes by film dispersion to yield nanoparticles (113.4 nm) with light-responsive release properties, as shown by in vitro release studies. Intracellular uptake and distribution was studied in HeLa cells using transmission electron microscopy and confocal laser scanning microscopy. This demonstrated liposome internalization and localization in endosomal–lysosomal vesicles. Fluorescence intensity increased in cells exposed to UV light, indicating that this stimulated intracellular drug release; this finding was confirmed by quantitative analyses using flow cytometry. Antitumor efficacy was evaluated in HeLa cells, both in culture and in implants in vivo in nude mice. HeLa cell viability assays showed that light exposure enhanced liposome cytotoxicity and induction of apoptosis. Furthermore, treatment with the prepared liposomes coupled with UV light exposure produced greater antitumor effects in nude mice and reduced side effects, as compared with free vincristine sulfate.