Analysis of 4-dimethylaminopyridine (DMAP)-gold nanoparticles behaviour in solution and of their interaction with calf thymus DNA and living cells

作者：Biver T^*; Corti A; Eltugral N; Lorenzini E; Masini M; Paolicchi A; Pucci A; Ruggeri G; Secco F; Venturini M

来源：Journal of Nanoparticle Research, 2012, 14(2): 681.

DOI：10.1007/s11051-011-0681-8

• Gold nanoparticles
• DMAP
• DNA interaction
• Cell proliferation
• Electron microscopy
• Membrane crossing
• Nanobiotechnology

4-(Dimethylamino) pyridine-coated gold nanoparticles (DMAP-Au NPs) were synthesized, characterised and their interaction with DNA and living cells was analysed. Concerning the interaction of the DMAP-Au NPs with DNA, absorbance titrations indicate that a non-covalent interaction between DNA and the external surface of the NPs does take place. The binding constant was evaluated to be (2.8 +/- 0.8) x 10(5) M-1. Exposure of cultured cells to NPs revealed a dose-dependent effect on cell proliferation which was increased or reduced in dependence of DMAP-Au NPs concentrations. Subcellular localisation by transmission electron microscopy showed mitochondrial and nuclear localisations of NPs, thus suggesting their direct involvement in the mitochondrial alterations observed and a possible direct interaction with cell DNA. These findings clearly indicate that DMAP-Au NPs can strongly interact with living cells and confirm the importance of systematic evaluations of NPs properties, also in the perspective of their arising diagnostic and therapeutic applications.

• 出版日期2012-2